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SCENES 


IN    THE 


LIVES  OF  THE  APOSTLES. 


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>  JAN  4  vm 

4 


SCENES 


LIVES  OF  THE  APOSTLES. 


EDITED    BY 

H.    HASTINGS  WELD. 


Oh  Antioch,  thou  teacher  of  the  world!— 
From  out  thy  portals  passed  the  feet  of  those. 
Who,  hanished  and  despised,  have  made  thy  name 
The  next  in  rank  to  proud  Jerusalem. 
Within  thy  gates  tlie  persecuted  few, 
Who  dared  to  rally  round  the  Holy  Cross, 
And  worship  Him  whose  sacred  form  it  bore. 
Were  first  called  Christians.    In  thy  sad  conceit. 
Thou  mad'st  a  stigma  of  reproach  and  shame 
This  noblest  title  of  the  sons  of  earth; 
While,  save  for  this,  thy  name  were  scarcely  known, 
E.xcept  among  the  mouldering  vestiges 
Of  dim  antiquity. 

So  doth  our  God 
Make  all  man's  folly  ever  praise  His  Name. 

Julian  Cramer. 


PHILADELPHIA: 

LINDSAY   &  BLAKISTON. 


Entered,  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1846, 

By  Lindsay  and  Blakiston, 

In  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  for  the  Eastern  District  of 

Pennsylvania. 


C.    SHERMAN,    PRINTER, 

19  St  James  Street. 


PREFACE. 


Commencing  with  the  Ministry  of  John  the  Baptist  and 
Forerunner,  this  volume  ilkistrates  some  of  the  most  striking 
incidents  in  the  Lives  of  the  Apostles,  as  Disciples  of  John 
and  of  Jesus,  and  then  as  his  Ministers  and  Witnesses.  No 
other  restriction  has  been  placed  upon  the  choice  of  themes, 
than  the  avoidance,  as  far  as  possible,  of  those  illustrated  in 
the  "  Scenes  in  the  Life  of  the  Saviour,"  that  this  book  may 
be  at  once  a  companion  for  that,  and  still  complete  in  itself, 
as  treating  both  of  The  True  Vine  and  its  Branches. 


1* 


ILLUSTEATIONS, 


ENGRAVED  ON  STEEL, 


JOHN  SARTAIN,  PHILADELPHIA. 


THE  REDEEMER DECAIME..  .Frontispiece. 

"  I  am  the  Vine,  ye  are  the  branches." 

John  xv.  5. 


ANTIOCH  IN  SYRIA HARDING.  Vignette  Title. 

"  And  the  Disciples  were  called  Christians  first  in  Antiocli." 

Acts  xi.  26. 


JOHN  REPROVING  HEROD LE  BRUN 25 

"Herod  feared  John,  knowing  that  he  was  a  just  man  and  holy." 

Mare  vi.  29. 


CHRIST  WEEPING  OVER  JERUSALEM. .BEGAS 75 

"And  when  he  was  come  near  he  beheld  the  city  and  wept  over  it." 

Luke  ix.  41. 


CHRIST'S  CHARGE  TO  PETER RAPHAEL 119 

"Feed  my  Lambs." 

John  xxi.  15. 


VI 11 


ILLUSTRATIONS. 


HEALING  THE  LAME RAPHAEL 147 

"In  the  name  of  Jesus  Christ  of  Nazareth,  rise  up  and  walk." 

Acts  iii.  6. 


PAUL  BEFORE  AGRIPPA SARTAIN 187 

"Then  Paul  stretched  forth  the  hand  and  answered  for  himself.'.' 

Acts  xxvi.  1. 


JOHN  ON  THE  ISLE  OF  PATMOS DECAIME 229 

"And  I  turned  to  see  the  voice  that  spake  with  me." 

Rev.  i.  12. 


CONTENTS. 


PROEM. 

THE  FIKST  AND  SECOND  COMING HEBER 13 

SCENES  IN  THE  LIVES  OF  THE  APOSTLES. 

the  voice  in  the  wilderness johnson 17 

the  way  of  life lowell 28 

the  calling  of  the  apostles editor 29 

the  true  brotherly  love eeble 39 

infant  st.  john gould 42 

nathanael keble 44 

Jacob's  well clarke 48 

the  miraculous  draught east 50 

the  pool  of  bethesda barton 52 

christ  in  the  storm brown 55 

little  children  blessed huntington 58 

THE  ruler's  FAITH SIGOURNEY Gl 

THE  TRANSFIGURATION NORBIS 64 

THE  BLIND  RESTORED  TO  SIGHT BRYANT 6G 

THE  RAISING  OF  LAZARUS ANONYMOUS 68 

THE  ENTRY  INTO  JERUSALEM ANONYMOUS 71 

THE  widow's  MITE LANDON /3 

WHO  GAZES  FROM  MOUNT  OLIVET  ? TAPPAN 'J 


X  CONTENTS. 

THE  MEMORIAL  OF  MARY HEMANS 77 

BLESSING  THE  BREAD DALE 78 

INVOCATION HERRICK 80 

the  peace  of  god clarke 82 

the  prayer  of  jesus tappan 85 

sleeping  for  sorrow mitchell 87 

gethsemane - anonymous 90 

Christ's  look  to  peter barrett 92 

the  passion  of  christ davison 94 

it  is  finished barton 96 

the  resurrection mitchell 99 

mary  at  the  sepulchre hankinson 102 

the  sabbath  evening  walk cowper 104 

christ  appearing  to  his  disciples keble 106 

unbelieving  thomas dale 108 

divine  love bo  wring hi 

christ  our  redeemer gascoigne 114 

the  lord  my  shepherd davison 116 

hy'mn sandys 118 

lovest  thou  me  ? cramer 119 

the  followers  of  christ heber 121 

the  last  command anonymous 124 

what  shall  this  man  do  ? keble 127 

the  ascension drummond 129 

the  christian  sabbath anonymous 133 

the  gift  of  tongues jenner 135 

the  call  of  the  gentiles mad  an 143 

the  lame  man  healed patterson 147 

christian  obedience hayes 151 

the  death  of  stephen crosswell 154 

the  conversion  of  st.  paul keblk 155 

the  preaching  of  st.  paul letxice igo 

the  gospel  triad burgess 164 

pure  religion wilcox 1g6 


CONTENTS.  xi 

ST.  Peter's  release keble 1G9 

PAUL  AND  BARNABAS  AT  LYSTRA IIOYLE 173 

PAUL  AND  SILAS  AT  PHILIPPI PIERPONT 179 

PAUL  PREACHING  AT  ATHENS LYNCH 181 

THE  RESURRECTION BOLLAND 184 

PAUL  BEFORE  AGRIPPA SIGOURNEY 187 

MIRACLES BOLLAND 189 

CHRISTIAN  WARFARE ELIZABETH 191 

THE  SONG  OF  THE  REDEEMED ALFORD 193 

THE  GOSPEL  OF  PEACE BOWRING 196 

CHARITY PETER 198 

THE  POOR PERCIVAL 200 

PEACE  IN  BELIEVING GOULD 202 

THE  LIVES  OF  THE  APOSTLES EDITOR 205 

BLESSED  ARE  THE  DEAD LONGFELLOW 229 

THE  APOSTLE  PAUL EDITOR 231 

l'eNVOI BOWLES 240 


P  E  0  EM. 


THE  FIRST  AND  SECOND  COMING. 


REGINALD    HEBER. 


Bright  beaming  through  the  sky, 
Burst  in  full  blaze  the  dayspring  from  on  high ; 
Earth's  utmost  isles  exulted  at  the  sight, 
x\nd  crowding  nations  drank  the  orient  light. 
Lo,  star-led  chiefs  Assyrian  odours  bring, 
And  bending  Magi  seek  their  infant  King ! 
Marked  ye,  where  hovering  o'er  His  radiant  head, 
The  dove's  white  wings  celestial  glory  shed  ? 
Daughter  of  Sion !  virgin  queen !  rejoice ! 
Clap  the  glad  hand,  and  lift  th'  exulting  voice ! 
He  comes, — but  not  in  regal  splendour  drest. 
The  haughty  diadem,  the  Tyrian  vest ; 
Not  armed  in  flame,  all-glorious  from  afar, 
Of  hosts  the  chieftain,  and  the  lord  of  war : 


14  THE   FIRST    AND   SECOND   COMING. 

Messiah  comes ! — let  furious  discord  cease ; 
Be  peace  on  earth  before  the  Prince  of  Peace ! 
Disease  and  anguish  feel  His  blest  control, 
And  howling  fiends  release  the  tortured  soul ; 
The  beams  of  gladness  hell's  dark  caves  illume, 
And  Mercy  broods  above  the  distant  gloom. 


Thou  palsied  earth,  with  noonday  night  o'erspread ! 
Thou  sickening  sun,  so  dark,  so  deep,  so  red ! 
Ye  hovering  ghosts,  that  throng  the  starless  air. 
Why  shakes  the  earth  t  why  fades  the  light  ?  declare  ! 
Are  those  His  limbs,  with  ruthless  scourges  torn  1 
His  brows,  all  bleeding  with  the  twisted  thorn  ? 
His  the  pale  form,  the  meek  forgiving  eye 
Raised  from  the  cross  in  patient  agony  1 
Be  dark,  thou  sun, — thou  noonday  night  arise. 
And  hide,  oh  hide,  the  dreadful  sacrifice ! 
Ye  faithful  few,  by  bold  affection  led. 
Who  round  the  Saviour's  cross  your  sorrows  shed. 
Not  for  His  sake  your  tearful  vigils  keep ; — 
Weep  for  your  country,  for  your  children  weep ! 


Yet  shall  she  rise;  but  not  by  war  restored; 
Not  built  in  murder,— planted  by  the  sword ; 
Yes,  Salem,  thou  shalt  rise :  thy  Father's  aid 
Shall  heal  the  wound  His  chastening  hand  has  made ; 
Shall  judge  the  proud  oppressor's  ruthless  sway. 
And  burst  his  brazen  bonds,  and  cast  his  cords  away ; 
Then  on  your  tops  shall  deathless  verdure  spring. 
Break  forth,  ye  mountains,  and,  ye  valleys,  sing ! 


THE   FIRST   AND   SECOND   COMING. 

No  more  your  thirsty  rocks  shall  frown  forlorn, 
The  unbeliever's  jest,  the  heathen's  scorn ; 
The  sultry  sands  shall  tenfold  harvests  yield, 
And  a  new  Eden  deck  the  thorny  field. 
E'en  now,  perchance,  wide-waving  o'er  the  land, 
That  mighty  Angel  lifts  his  golden  wand. 
Courts  the  bright  vision  of  descending  power, 
Tells  every  gate,  and  measures  every  tower ; 
And  chides  the  tardy  seals  that  yet  detain 
Thy  Lion,  Judah,  from  his  destined  reign. 

And.  who  is  He  1  the  vast,  the  awful  form. 
Girt  with  the  whirlwind,  sandal'd  with  the  storm? 
A  western  cloud  around  His  limbs  is  spread. 
His  crown  a  rainbow,  and  a  sun  His  head. 
To  highest  Heaven  He  lifts  his  kingly  hand. 
And  treads  at  once  the  ocean  and  the  land ; 
And,  hark !  His  voice  amid  the  thunder's  roar. 
His  dreadful  voice,  that  time  shall  be  no  more ! 

Lo !  cherub  hands  the  golden  courts  prepare, 
Lo !  thrones  arise,  and  every  saint  is  there ; 
Earth's  utmost  bounds  confess  the  awful  sway, 
The  mountains  worship,  and  the  isles  obey ; 
Nor  sun  nor  moon  they  need, — nor  day,  nor  night ; — 
God  is  their  temple,  and  the  Lamb  their  light : 
And  shall  not  Israel's  sons  exulting  come, 
Hail  the  glad  beam,  and  claim  their  ancient  home  ? 
On  David's  throne  shall  David's  offspring  reign, 
And  the  dry  bones  be  warm  with  life  again. 


15 


16  THE   FIRST    AND   SECOND    COMING. 

Hark !  white-robed  crowds  their  deep  hosannas  raise, 

And  the  hoarse  flood  repeats  the  sound  of  praise ; 

Ten  thousand  harps  attune  the  mystic  song, 

Ten  thousand  thousand  saints  the  strain  prolong ; — 

"  Wortliy  the  Lamb  !  omnipotent  to  save. 

Who  died,  who  lives,  triumphant  o'er  the  grave !" 


SCENES 


THE  LIVES   OE  THE  APOSTLES. 


THE  VOICE  IN  THE  WILDERNESS. 

C.     H.     JOHNSON. 

The  voice  of  him  that  crioth  in  the  wilderness,  Prepare  ye  the  way  of  the  Lord,  make 
straight  in  the  desert  a  highway  for  our  God. — Isaiah  xl.  3. 

Behold  I  will  send  you  Elijah  the  prophet  before  the  coming  of  the  great  and  dreadful  day  of 
the  Lord;  and  he  shall  turn  the  heart  of  the  fathers  to  the  children,  and  the  heart  of  the 
children  to  their  fathers,  lest  I  come  and  smite  the  earth  with  a  curse. — Malachi  iv.  5,  6. 

He  said,  I  am  the  voice  of  one  crying  in  the  wilderness.  Make  straight  the  way  of  the  Lord, 
as  saith  the  prophet  Esaias. — St.  John  i.  23. 

This  is  he,  of  whom  it  is  written,  Behold  I  send  my  messenger  before  thy  face,  whicli  shall 
prepare  thy  way  before  thee.  *  *  *  And  if  ye  will  receive  it,  this  is  Elias,  which  was  for 
to  come. — St.  Matthew  xi.  10,  14. 

John  stood,  and  tivo  of  his  disciples:  and  looking  upon  Jesus  as  he  walked,  he  saith,  Behold 
the  Lamb  of  God !  And  the  two  disciples  heard  him  speak,  and  they  followed  Jesus.— St. 
John  i.  35-38. 

Hark  !  through  the  desert  wilds,  what  awful  voice 
Swells  on  the  gale,  and  bids  the  world  rejoice  ? 
What  Prophet  form,  in  holy  raptures  led, 
The  gray  mists  hov'ring  o'er  his  sacred  head, 
Prepares  on  earth  Messiah's  destined  way, 
And  hastes  the  mighty  Messenger  of  Day  ? 
2* 


18  THE   VOICE   IN    THE    WILDERNESS. 

Lo  !  echoing  skies  resound  the  gladsome  strain : 
"  Messiah  comes  !  ye  rugged  paths,  be  plain ; 
The  Shiloh  comes !  ye  tow'ring  cedars,  bend ; 
Swell  forth,  ye  valleys ;  and,  ye  rocks,  descend ; 
The  wither'd  branch,  let  balmy  fruits  adorn, 
And  clust'ring  roses  'twine  the  leafless  thorn ; 
Burst  forth,  ye  vocal  groves,  your  joy  to  tell — 
The  God  of  Peace  redeems  his  Israel." 

How  beauteous  are  the  feet  of  those  who  bear 
Mercy  to  man,  glad  tidings  to  despair ! 
Far  from  the  mountain's  top  they  lovelier  seem 
Than  moonlight  dews,  or  morning's  rosy  beam ; 
Sweeter  the  voice  than  spell  or  hymning  sphere, 
And  list'ning  angels  hush  their  harps  to  hear. 

Roused  at  the  solemn  call,  from  all  her  shores, 
Her  eager  tribes,  behold,  Judaea  pours  ! 
Though  scarce  the  morn  asserts  her  doubtful  sway. 
And  doubtful  darkness  still  contends  with  day, 
I  see  them  rush,  like  rolling  surges  driv'n, 
Or  night-clouds  riding  o'er  the  glooms  of  heav'n. 
There  waves  the  white  robe  through  the  dusky  glade. 
Here  passing  helms  gleam  dreadful  through  the  shade, 
Faint  o'er  the  cliffs  the  fading  torchlight  plays, 
And  dying  watch-fires  fling  their  sullen  blaze ; 
Fly  the  scared  panthers  from  their  pierced  retreats, 
While  Salem,  wondering,  mourns  her  desert  streets. 

Why  crowd  ye  cities  forth  ?  some  reed  to  find. 
Some  vain  reed  trembling  to  the  careless  wind  ? 


THE    VOICE   IN    THE    WILDERNESS.  jg 

Or  throng  ye  here  to  view,  with  doting  eye, 
Some  chieftain  stand  in  purple  pageantry  ? 
Such  dwell  in  kingly  domes — no  silken  form 
Woos  the  stern  clift;  and  braves  the  mountain  storm. 
What  rush  ye  there  to  seek  1  some  Prophet-Seer  1 
One  mightier  than  the  Prophets  find  ye  here — 
The  loftiest  bard  that  waked  the  sacred  lyre, 
To  him  in  rapture  pour'd  his  lips  of  fire ; 
Attuned  to  him  the  voice  of  Sion  fell — 
Thy  name,  Elias,  closed  the  mystic  shell. 

Alas !  how  dark  a  flood  of  woes  and  crimes, 
Since  that  dread  hour,  has  whelm'd  the  fateful  times ! 
How  oft  has  Israel's  Ark,  by  tempests  toss'd, 
Sent  forth  her  raven's  wing,  and  found  no  coast ! 
Now  fairer  scenes  her  kindling  eye  discerns. 
With  hope's  green  branch  the  welcome  dove  returns. 
And,  gladly  soaring  past  the  prospect  drear, 
Hails  the  bright  star*  that  tells  the  dayspring  near. 

Yes  !  surely  born  to  more  than  mortal  power. 
Glory  hath  marked  him  from  his  earliest  hour ; 
Oflspring  of  age,  on  wings  of  radiance  borne, 
A  warning  Angel  told  his  natal  morn ; 
Hailed  by  prophetic  matrons  to  the  earth. 
The  speechless  spake,  to  bless  him  at  his  birth  ; 
Sweet  was  the  strain,  when  first,  with  fond  surprise. 
The  hoary  parent  kissed  his  infant  eyes ; 
From  his  rapt  lips  the  spell  of  silence  broke, 
And  Inspiration  thrili'd  him  as  he  spoke. 

*  St.  John  is  called  the  Morning  Star  to  the  Sun  of  Righteousness. 


20  THE   VOICE    IN    THE    WILDERNESS. 

Si.ch  was  his  birth  !  nor  less  august  appears 
The  wondrous  fate  that  led  his  rising  years ; 
For  lo  !  sequester'd  from  the  haunts  of  men, 
Deep  to  the  stillness  of  some  shaggy  glen, 
Where  vice  and  folly  faded  from  his  view, 
The  lonely  youth,  impelled  by  Heav'n,  withdrew — 
There,  near  some  brook,  that  dashed  in  murmurs  by. 
The  rock  his  pillow,  and  his  roof  the  sky. 
Clad  in  such  savage  robes  as  deserts  yield. 
His  food  the  wild  sweets  of  the  flowery  field. 
Grave,  pensive,  bold,  majestic,  undefiled, 
To  holy  manhood  dwelt  Devotion's  child  ; 
Descending  angels  blest  his  rude  abode, 
He  drank  th'  hallowing  flame,  he  felt  the  inspiring  God. 

Oft,  ere  the  dawn  had  tinged  the  tallest  steep, 
And  man  and  nature  still  were  hushed  in  sleep, 
High  o'er  yon  ridge,  in  darkness  would  he  stray, 
To  muse  and  wonder  till  returning  day. 
Watch-tower  sublime !     There,  as  the  morning  bright 
Swell'd  from  dim  chaos  into  life  and  light, 
Threw  its  broad  beams  o'er  waste  and  misty  wood, 
While  rock  and  fortress,  lake  and  glist'ning  flood. 
Burst  in  full  blaze  of  splendour  to  the  skies — 
To  loftiest  thoughts  his  kindling  soul  would  rise ; 
Till,  proudly  soaring  past  this  world  of  man. 
The  mortal  sunk,  and  Heaven  itself  began, — 
So  rapt  he  stood,  that  oft  revolving  night 
Found  him,  unconscious,  on  the  mountain's  height ; 
In  vain  the  tempest,  round  his  'fenceless  head, 
Flung  all  its  fires,  its  wildest  torrents  shed ; 


THE    VOICE    IN   THE    WILDERNESS.  21 

The  shelt'ring  robber  saw  his  clouded  form, 
And  fled — to  shun  the  Genius  of  the  Storm. 

Past  are  those  hours !     Along  the  silent  dews 
His  lonely  walk  no  more  the  sage  pursues ; 
With  gesture  wild,  rude  garb,  and  speaking  eye, 
An  air  of  strange  and  dreadful  majesty. 
See !  forth  he  comes,  his  holy  office  giv'n. 
Herald  of  Christ,  high  harbinger  of  Heav'n, 
Hark !  how  the  rocks  his  warning  voice  resound, 
And  Jordan's  caverns  tell  the  strain  around ; 
While  poor  and  rich,  the  soldier  and  the  sage. 
The  bloom  of  youth,  and  hoary  locks  of  age, 
In  gathering  crowds,  Messiah's  name  adore. 
And  rush,  all  trembling,  to  the  sacred  shore. 

How  changed  the  scene  !  Are  these  the  realms  of  dread, 
Which  wand'ring  footsteps  scarcely  dared  to  tread  ? 
Where  midnight  lions  roamed  the  forests  rude. 
And  all  was  wild  and  frightful  solitude  ? 
Now,  lone  no  more,  where'er  it  winds  along. 
The  lucid  stream  reflects  a  list'ning  throng ; 
True  to  the  life  their  grouping  shadows  glide, 
And  ev'ry  passion  paints  the  breathing  tide. 
See !  young  Amazement  starting,  as  if  light. 
Just  glanced  from  Heaven,  had  caught  his  dazzled  sight, 
While  Faith's  full  eyes  their  tranquil  homage  raise, 
And  ev'ry  feature  fixes  into  praise. 
There  kindling  Hope  with  ardent  look  appears ; 
Here  softened  Sorrow  smiUng  through  her  tears ; 


22  THE    VOICE    IN    THE   WILDERNESS. 

While  timid  Sliame,  as  if  herself  address'd, 
Blushes  to  hear,  and  sinks  behind  the  rest. 

But  yet,  not  all  unfeigned,  Devotion  brings 
To  drink  of  life  at  Jordan's  hallowed  springs ; 
Haggard  and  pale,  their  limbs  all  torn  and  bare, 
Not  such  yon  Essens  from  their  caves  repair ; 
A  gloomy  race,  attempting  Heaven  in  vain, 
By  wanton  griefs,  and  voluntary  pain : 
Their  sullen  breasts  no  gleam  of  sunshine  cheers. 
Blaspheming  Mercy  by  eternal  tears. 

And  base  the  joy  yon  Sadducees  can  know. 
Sense  all  their  bliss,  and  pain  their  only  wo : 
Worms  of  a  day,  and  fettered  to  the  dust, 
They  own  no  future  dread,  no  heav'nly  trust. 
But  vacant  come  the  passing  scene  to  scan, 
And  steal  his  bright  pre-eminence  from  man. 

Far  other  those,  by  solemn  mien  confest, 
Broad  scrolls  of  scripture  blazon'd  o'er  the  breast. 
Who  throng  around  the  Seer,  with  fiendlike  joy, 
List'ning  to  mock,  and  tempting  to  destroy — 
Saints  in  the  crowd,  a  heavenward  look  they  wear. 
But  Mammon  mingles  with  their  purest  prayer ; 
Theirs  the  proud  hope  to  sway  Religion's  rod, 
Zealots  of  form,  yet  traitors  to  their  God. 

"  And  is  it  ye,"  the  indignant  Prophet  cries. 
Bright  lambent  terrors  streaming  from  his  eyes, 


THE    VOICE   IN    THE    WILDERNESS. 

"  Oh  race  of  vipers,  ye !  who  timely  come, 
To  fly  the  thunders  of  impending  doom  1 — 
Repent,  repent ;  now  think  no  more  to  plead 
Yom-  sacred  race,  and  Abraham's  chosen  seed. 
Behold,  He  comes !  in  power  and  judgment,  forth. 
Who  looks  with  equal  eye  on  all  the  earth ; 
Whose  piercing  glance  can  read  the  soul  within, 
And  wind  the  darkest  labyrinths  of  sin : 
He  comes  !  see  !  stooping  from  the  realms  of  day, 
The  Lamb  of  God,  to  wash  your  crimes  away. 
I  lave  with  water ;  but  his  hands  inspire 
The  Holy  Spirit,  and  baptize  with  fire." 

The  Sage  hath  ceased — and  mark,  how  pale  to  hear 
Mute  Expectation  stands,  and  Awe,  and  Fear ! 
Guilt  starts  confessed,  and  looks,  with  hopeless  eye, 
To  view  descend  some  vengeful  deity. 
But  who  is  He,  majestic,  mournful,  mild. 
Bright  as  a  god,  yet  lowly  as  a  child, 
Who  meekly  comes  the  sacred  rite  to  crave. 
And  add  fresh  pureness  to  the  crystal  wave  1 
Well  mayst  thou  tremble.  Baptist;  well  thy  cheek. 
Now  flushed,  now  pale,  thy  lab'ring  soul  bespeak ! 
'Tis  He,  the  Christ,  by  every  bard  foretold ! 
Hear  him,  ye  nations,  and,  ye  heav'ns,  behold ! 
"  The  Virgin-born,  to  bruise  the  Serpent's  head. 
The  Paschal  Lamb,  to  patient  slaughter  led. 
The  King  of  kings,  to  crush  the  gates  of  Hell, 
Messiah,  Shiloh,  Jah,  Emmanuel !" 
See !  o'er  his  head,  soft  sinking  from  above. 
With  hov'ring  radiance  hangs  the  mystic  Dove : 


23 


24  THE   VOICE   IN    THE   WILDERNESS. 

Dread  from  the  cloud  Jehovah's  voice  is  known, 
This  is  my  Son,  my  own,  my  well-loved  Son !" 

Baptist,  rejoice !  thy  gifted  eyes  have  seen 
The  brightest  hour  of  man,  since  time  hath  been ; 
By  thee  anointed  for  the  ghostly  fight, 
Heaven's  Warrior-Son  assumed  his  arms  of  light. 
Stern  marches  forth,  his  deadly  foe  to  find. 
And  wage  th'  immortal  battle  of  mankind. 
And  thou,  oh  saint  of  floods !  whose  wave  hath  rolled. 
Pregnant  with  wonder,  from  the  days  of  old ; 
Scene  of  the  hero's  deeds,  and  prophet's  song, 
Still,  Jordan,  flow,  exulting  sweep  along; 
Bright  as  the  morn  from  ocean's  wavy  bed, 
Prom  thee  Messiah  raised  his  spotless  head. 
Called  all  his  glories  forth,  and  passed  sublime, 
To  pour  his  light  o'er  ev'ry  darkling  clime. 

'Tis  done ;  and  vanished,  like  an  airy  dream. 
The  list'ning  crowds  from  Jordan's  hallowed  stream  : 
Primeval  Solitude  her  reign  resumes, 
And  Silence  saddens  o'er  the  slumbering  glooms — 
And,  Prophet,  where  art  thou  1     I  hear  no  more 
Thy  footsteps  rustle  on  the  reedy  shore. 
Nor  view  thee  sit  upon  the  moonlight  stone, 
Like  the  pale  spirit  of  the  wilds,  alone. 
Alas  !  far  other  scenes  await  him  now ; 
Far  heavier  cares  oppress  his  weary  brow : 
Mid  Salem's  court  he  stands,  in  virtue's  pride. 
And  guilty  Grandeur  dwindles  at  his  side. 


^\ 


THE    VOICE    IN    THE    WILDERNESS.  25 

Yet,  Jordan,  oft  shall  Mem'ry's  eye  review 
Thy  willowed  banks,  and  hills  of  distant  blue : 
There,  if  the  wastes  no  kingly  pomp  display. 
No  festive  pleasures  crown  the  jocund  day, 
Yet  Pride,  and  Avarice,  and  guilty  Fear, 
Ambition  wild,  and  dark  Revenge  are  here, — 
Passions  and  Appetites,  a  fiercer  train 
Than  e'er  rushed  howling  o'er  the  desert  plain. 

Still  shrinks  he  not :  in  conscious  virtue  bold, 
No  dangers  daunt  him,  and  no  toils  withhold. 
Where  yoii  proud  dome  the  sons  of  riot  calls, 
And  Salem's  nobles  crowd  the  gorgeous  halls ; 
Where  every  charm  that  wealth  and  arts  supply. 
In  bright  profusion  meet  the  wondering  eye ; 
See,  stern,  unmoved,  in  native  grandeur  great, 
The  Prophet  tow^'rs,  and  breathes  the  words  of  fate. 
Yes,  as  he  boldly  brands  each  dark  offence. 
Truth  all  his  arms,  his  shield  but  innocence ; 
See  Herod,  'mid  his  guards  enthroned  on  high. 
In  pride  of  power,  in  regal  panoply, 
Shrinks  'neath  the  Hermit's  gaze,  by  conscience  stung, 
A  paler  Ahab,  from  a  bolder  tongue. 

Oh  Salem !  'mid  the  storms  that  round  thee  roll, 
Frequent  and  loud,  to  warn  thy  slumb'ring  soul ; 
Dashed  from  thy  hand  when  Judah's  sceptre  falls. 
And  the  stern  stranger  rules  thy  captive  walls; 
When  now,  more  thrilling  than  the  trumpet's  blast, 
Elias  stands,  the  mightiest  and  the  last 

3 


26  THE    VOICE   IN    THE   WILDERNESS. 

Of  all  the  sons  of  prophecy,  to  tell 

That  fate  comes  rushing  on  thee,  Israel ; 

Say,  canst  thou  still  the  wing  of  mercy  spurn, 

Hearing,  be  deaf,  and  seeing,  not  discern  1 

Sunk  as  thou  art,  and  stained  with  holy  blood. 

Still  wouldst  thou  madly  swell  thy  guilt's  dark  flood  ? 

Yet,  Baptist,  go  exulting  to  thy  doom — 
Though  Rage  condemn  thee  to  the  dungeon's  gloom, 
Yon  dreary  vault,  where  morn  can  never  break, 
Nor  evening  zephyr  fan  thy  fevered  cheek. 
Nor  Friendship's  voice,  in  sorrow  doubly  dear. 
Pour  its  fond  music  in  thy  lonely  ear — 
Yet  thine  are  joys  the  tyrant  never  knew ; 
Hope's  fairest  flowers  thy  rugged  couch  shall  strew ; 
Thy  nights  in  blissful  visions  glide  away, 
And  holy  musings  steal  its  length  from  day. 

For  thee,  oh  king,  to  drown  corroding  care. 
Command  the  feast,  and  bid  the  dance  be  there ; 
Still  'mid  thy  blazing  halls,  in  trappings  proud. 
Affect  the  god,  and  awe  the  flattering  crowd. 
Yet  though  the  lute  and  shell  and  horn  prolong 
The  burst  of  melody,  and  swell  the  song ; 
Though  witching  beauty  tries  each  wily  art, 
And  woos  and  wins  and  rules  thy  powerless  heart ; 
What  though  to  heaven  thy  guilty  revels  swell. 
Far  brighter  raptures  cheer  the  captive's  cell — 
Glad  is  the  song  consenting  tongues  record : 
"  Messiah  reigns,  high  deeds  proclaim  the  Lord. 


THE    VOICE   IN   THE    WILDERNESS.  37 

The  deaf  can  hear,  the  bhnd  receive  their  sight, 

And  wither'd  Palsy  springs  with  new  deUght ; 

On  Pain's  pale  cheek  reviving  roses  bloom. 

And  shrouded  Death  starts  wond'ring  from  the  tomb." 

Enrapt'ring  thought!  what  now  demands  him  more? 
His  task  is  done,  his  holy  cares  are  o'er ! 
Messiah  reigns,  believed,  confessed,  adored 
And  earth's  remotest  climes  shall  own  his  word. 
Then,  tyrant,  yield :  thy  fatal  vow  fulfil ; 
Rush,  fell  enchantress,  glut  thy  vengeful  will ; 
Exhaust  th'  inventive  cruelty  of  hate, 
And  learn  how  virtue  triumphs  o'er  its  fate. 
Backward  he  looks  with  self-approving  eye, 
Before  him  smiles  bright  Immortality : 
Forgiving,  fearless,  calm,  he  yields  his  breath, 
And  mounts  to  glory  on  the  wings  of  death. 


THE    WAY    OF    LIFE. 

JAMES    RUSSELL    LOWELL. 
I  am  the  Way  and  the  Truth  and  the  Life.— St.  John  xiv.  6. 

I  SAW  a  gate :  a  harsh  voice  spake  and  said, 

"  This  is  the  gate  of  Life ;"  above  w^as  writ, 

"  Leave  hope  behind,  all  ye  who  enter  it," 

Then  shrank  my  heart  within  itself  for  dread ; 

But  softer  than  the  summer  rain  is  shed. 

Words  dropped  upon  my  soul,  and  they  did  say, 

"  Fear  nothing,  Faith  shall  save  thee ;  watch  and  pray !" 

So,  without  fear  I  lifted  up  my  head. 

And  lo  !  that  writing  was  not ;  one  fair  word 

Was  written  in  its  stead,  and  it  was  "  Love." 

Then  rained,  once  more,  those  sweet  tones  from  above, 

With  healing  on  their  wings :  I  humbly  heard, 

*'  I  am  the  Life,  ask  and  it  shall  be  given ! 

I  am  the  Way,  by  me  ye  enter  Heaven !" 


THE  CALLING  OF  THE  APOSTLES. 

Have  I  not  chosen  you  twelve,  and  one  of  you  is  a  devil  ?— St.  John  vi.  70. 
I  have  chosen  you  and  ordained  you,  that  ye  should  go  forth  and  bring  forth  fruit,  and  that 
your  fruit  should  remain. — St.  John  xv.  16. 

"  He  must  increase,  but  I  must  decrease."  Thus  spake  John 
the  Baptist  of  that  mightier  than  he,  the  latchet  of  whose  shoes 
the  humble  herald  declared  himself  unworthy  to  unloose.  The 
fulfilment  of  this  prophecy  was  almost  instant  with  its  utter- 
ance. In  the  lifetime  of  the  Baptist,  and  while  he  yet  continued 
his  public  ministry,  Jesus  made  and  baptized  more  disciples 
than  John ;  and  when  the  Sun  of  Righteousness  was  fully  risen, 
the  lesser  glory  of  the  Morning  Star  was  lost  in  the  brightness 
of  his  beams. 

The  hermit  of  the  wilderness,  to  whom  all  men  repaired,  to 
quail  and  tremble  before  the  warning  voice  which  called  them 
to  repentance,  for  the  kingdom  of  heaven  was  at  hand,  was  the 
living  miracle  who  bore  witness  that  Jesus  was  the  Son  of 
God.  Nor  could  the  Sanhedrim,  in  their  boasted  knowledge  and 
spiritual  tyranny,  gainsay  his  testimony,  for  when  they  were 
asked  whether  his  baptism  was  from  Heaven  or  of  men,  they 
dared  not  impeach  the  holiness  of  him  whom  all  the  people 
counted  as  a  prophet. 

Thus  did  he  prepare  the  way  of  the  Lord,  and  make  his 
paths  straight,  exalting  the  valleys  of  the  humility  of  the  people, 
and  Jbringing  low  the  mountains  of  the  ritual  pride  of  the  priests 

3* 


30      THE  CALLING  OF  THE  APOSTLES. 

and  rulers,  and  the  spiritual  haughtiness  of  the  Scribes  and 
Pharisees.  And  as  we  examine  the  narrative  of  the  ministry 
of  John  and  the  coming  of  the  Prince  of  Peace,  we  perceive 
how,  in  another  and  a  nearer  sense,  he  prepared  the  way ;  for 
when  first  we  read  of  the  disciples  of  Jesus,  we  read  of  them 
as  the  disciples  of  John. 

It  was  upon  the  exclamation  of  John  "  Behold  the  Lamb  of 
God,"  that  two  of  his  disciples,  who  had  probably  witnessed 
the  baptism  of  Jesus,  and  had  heard  their  master  and  teacher 
bear  often  witness  of  him,  turned  and  followed  Christ.  One  of 
these  disciples  was  Andrew ;  the  other  was  the  narrator  of  the 
incident,  John  the  Evangelist.  To  this  opinion  we  are  led  from 
the  modesty  and  humility  of  the  "  disciple  whom  Jesus  loved," 
and  from  his  uniform  suppression  of  his  name,  and  indeed  of 
all  mention  of  himself,  except  when  his  duty  as  an  inspired 
historian  demanded  it  of  him. 

These  two  disciples,  Andrew  and  John,  inquired  of  Jesus, 
"  Master,  where  dwellest  thou  ?"  The  Saviour  answered, 
"Come  and  see;"  and  as  it  was  now  near  eventide,  they  abode 
with  him  during  the  remainder  of  that  day  and  the  night  fol- 
lowing. During  these  precious  hours,  while  they  dwelt  upon 
the  words  which  fell  from  the  lips  of  him,  who  spake  as  never 
man  spake,  such  were  the  evidences  that  they  received  of  his 
mission,  that  they  were  ready  at  once  to  claim  him  as  the 
Christ.  Andrew  then,  with  a  brotherly  affection  worthy  of  all 
imitation,  sought  first  his  brother  Simon,  and  announced  to  him, 
*'  We  have  found  the  Messias !" 

Willingly  was  Simon  led  to  Jesus,  and  the  Saviour  discern- 
ing his  character,  prophetically  addressed  him  in  the  remark- 
able words :  "  Thou  art  Simon,  the  son  of  Jona ;  thou  shalt  be 
called  Cephas,  which  is,  by  interpretation,  a  5/owe."     Jona  is, 


THE  CALLING  OF  THE  APOSTLES.      31 

by  interpretation,  a  clove,  and  the  new  designation  which  he  who 
read  the  hearts  of  men,  applied  to  his  ardent  and  impetuous 
follower,  is  in  strong  contrast  with  the  tame  appellative  which 
was  Simon's  by  inheritance. 

On  the  next  day  Jesus,  when  he  would  go  forth  into  Galilee, 
met  Philip,  who  being  of  Bethsaida,  the  city  of  Andrew  and 
Peter,  had  undoubtedly  heard  of  the  Saviour  from  his  towns- 
men ;  and  when  Jesus  bade  him  "  Follow  me,"  he  not  only 
himself  complied,  but  called  Nathanael  Bartholomew,  or  the  son 
of  Tholomew,  who,  in  all  the  Gospels  except  John,  is  called  by 
his  patronymic  Bartholomew,  instead  of  his  individual  name. 
What  reason  existed  for  this  departure  from  custom,  is  not  now 
ascertained. 

To  Bartholomew,  Philip  said,  "  We  have  found  him  of  whom 
Moses  in  the  law,  and  the  prophets  did  write,  Jesus  of  Nazareth, 
the  son  of  Joseph."  Bartholomew,  with  an  open  and  honest 
expression  of  doubt,  in  keeping  with  the  character  which  Jesus 
so  soon  after  pronounced  of  him,  answered  this  announcement 
with  the  query,  "  Can  any  good  thing  come  out  of  Nazareth  ?' 
Philip,  confident  that  the  proofs  which  he  had  received  would 
not  be  lost  upon  his  friend,  answered,  "  Come  and  see."  Judge 
for  yourself,  and  you  will  soon  determine,  with  me,  that  this  is 
the  Christ  which  should  come  into  the  world. 

Jesus  met  the  new-comer  with  the  greeting :  "  Behold  an 
Israelite  indeed,  in  whom  there  is  no  guile !"  Nathanael,  astonish- 
ed at  this  praise  from  one  whom  he  had  regarded  as  a  stranger, 
or  thinking  perhaps  that  the  good  report  of  his  friend,  Philip, 
had  possessed  Jesus  in  his  favour,  answered,  "  Whence  knowest 
thou  me  ?"  The  guileless  character  of  Nathanael  prevented  his 
counterfeiting  modesty,  or  disclaiming  a  character  which  his 
friends  had  attributed  to  him,  and  to  which  his  conscience  bore 


32      THE  CALLING  OF  THE  APOSTLES. 

him  witness.  His  artless  and  unhesitating  answer,  while  it  is 
characteristic  of  the  man,  is  one  of  the  thousands  of  beautifully- 
simple  evidences  of  the  veracity  of  the  plain  narrative  of  the 
Gospels ;  incidents  which  continually  recur  to  the  careful  reader, 
witnessing  with  his  thoughts  that  Jesus  is  the  Son  of  God,  and 
that  the  Gospel  is  his  Testament. 

Jesus  answered  by  referring  to  a  fact  which  Nathanael  sup- 
posed known  in  none  of  its  circumstances  to  any  save  himself 
and  Philip ;  and  it  is  doing  no  violence  to  the  sacred  narrative 
to  infer  that  there  was  implied  in  the  conversation,  a  corre- 
spondence of  thought  and  knowledge  between  Jesus  and  Na- 
thanael, to  which  even  Philip  was  a  stranger.  There  were  in 
those  days,  so  distinctly  pointed  out  by  the  prophets,  many  just 
and  devout  men,  waiting,  like  pious  Simeon,  for  the  consolation 
of  Israel,  and  hoping  that  they  might  not  see  death,  before  they 
had  seen  the  Lord's  Christ.  The  close  shade  of  the  fig-tree,  so 
favourable  for  that  devotion  which  withdraws  itself  from  the 
world,  was  often  chosen  by  the  pious  Hebrews  as  their  place 
of  secret  worship;  our  Saviour  himself  countenancing  the 
custom.  When,  therefore,  he  said  to  Nathanael,  "  Before  that 
Philip  called  thee,  when  thou  wast  under  the  fig-tree,  I  saw 
thee," — the  awe-struck  Israelite,  who  found  thus  revealed  what 
he  had  supposed  known  only  to  the  All-seeing  Eye,  greeted,  in 
a  voice  of  reverential  triumph,  him  who  was  thus  the  answer 
and  the  hearer  of  his  secret  prayer :  "  Rabbi !  thou  art  the  Son 
of  God  ;  thou  art  the  King  of  Israel !"  Jesus  answered :  "  Be- 
cause I  said  unto  thee,  I  saw  thee  under  the  fig-tree,  believest 
thou?  Thou  shalt  see  greater  things  than  these.  Verily, 
verily,  I  say  unto  you,  hereafter  ye  shall  see  Heaven  open^ 
and  the  Angels  of  God  ascending  and  descending  upon  the  Son 
of  Man."     This  was  a  beautiful  allusion  to  the  vision  of  Jacob, 


THE  CALLING  OF  THE  APOSTLES.      33 

which  Nathanael  could  not  fail  to  apply,  and  its  introduction 
still  farther  strengthens  our  interpretation  of  the  interview. 
"  Hast  thou  faith  in  the  Son  of  Man  because  he  reads  thy 
secret  thoughts  1  Verily,  hereafter  ye  shall  see  greater  things 
than  these :  I  am  the  way  and  the  truth  and  the  life :  no  man 
cometh  unto  the  Father  but  by  me,  neither  is  there  salvation  in 
any  other ;  and  through  me  shall  be  verified  to  you  the  vision 
of  the  Patriarch." 

Shortly  after  this  conversation  with  Nathanael,  the  Saviour 
was  present  at  the  wedding  in  Cana,  with  his  disciples,  Andrew, 
Peter,  Philip,  Nathanael,  and  probably  John,  as  in  his  gospel 
alone  occurs  the  narrative  of  this  beginning  of  miracles  in  Cana 
of  Galilee.  As  all  of  these  disciples  had  been  hearers,  and 
perhaps  disciples  of  John,  it  is  probable  that  many  more  among 
the  guests  assembled,  on  account  of  the  miracle  which  attended 
the  baptism  of  Christ,  and  the  strong  testimony  which  the 
hermit  had  borne  on  many  occasions  to  the  divine  mission 
and  character  of  Jesus,  were  prepared  to  find  in  Him,  so 
warmly  approved  by  their  master,  a  still  more  ascetic  prophet 
than  he  whose  raiment  was  camel's  hair,  and  whose  meat  was 
locusts  and  wild  honey.  Jesus  was  ready  now  to  mark  by  his 
conduct  the  distinction  between  himself  and  his  herald,  to 
which  he  afterward  alluded  when  he  said,  "  John  the  Baptist 
came  neither  eating  bread  nor  drinking  wine,"  but  "  the  Son  of 
Man  is  come  eating  and  drinking."  Thus  early  did  the  Saviour 
vouchsafe  a  practical  lesson  to  his  followers,  of  the  truth  which 
he  afterward  declared  by  his  own  mouth  and  by  his  disciples, 
that  it  is  not  what  is  eaten  and  drunk  that  defileth  a  man,  for  he 
that  eateth  and  he  that  eateth  not,  may  both  give  God  thanks — 
and  that  the  letter  of  ceremony  without  sincerity  killeth,  but 
the  spirit  giveth  life. 


34      THE  CALLING  OF  THE  APOSTLES. 

We  next  find  the  Saviour  accompanied  by  his  disciples  to 
Jerusalem,  where,  during  the  feast  of  the  Passover,  he  caused 
his  followers  to  remember  and  apply  to  him  the  prophetic 
saying  of  David,  "  The  zeal  of  thy  house  hath  eaten  me  up." 
Here  also  he  uttered  the  prophecy  relative  to  the  temple  of  his 
body,  which  the  Jews  misapplied,  and  even  his  disciples  did  not 
understand,  until  he  had  risen  from  the  dead.  Removing  the 
scene  of  his  labours  from  Jerusalem  into  Judea,  the  numbers  of 
proselytes  whom  his  disciples  baptized,  awakened  the  jealousy 
of  some  of  the  more  ardent  followers  of  John,  whose  querulous 
complaints  the  Baptist  answered  by  repeating  in  stronger  terms 
than  at  first,  his  testimony  to  the  Light  of  the  World.  At  length, 
admonished  by  the  increasing  enmity  of  the  Pharisees,  who, 
inasmuch  as  Jesus  made  more  disciples  than  John,  were  watch- 
ing the  new  teacher  with  redoubled  hate ;  and  warned  also  by 
the  imprisonment  of  John  by  Herod  Antipas,  he  departed  from 
Judea,  and  returned  to  Galilee. 

On  his  way  he  must  needs  pass  through  Samaria,  and  upon 
this  journey  occurred  the  remarkable  conference  with  the 
woman  at  the  Well  of  Sychar.  His  disciples  marvelled  that  he 
talked  with  the  woman,  but  none,  such  was  their  awe  of  him, 
questioned  his  motives  or  his  conduct;  though  he  abode  two  days 
in  Samaria,  an  act  most  remarkable  in  a  Hebrew.  Returning 
to  Galilee,  he  now  commenced  his  public  ministry,  as  the  fulfil- 
ment or  consummation  of  the  preaching  of  his  herald,  John, 
who  was  imprisoned,  as  we  have  noted,  by  order  of  Herod. 
At  this  passage  in  his  life  he  performed  his  second  and  most 
wonderful  miracle  in  Cana,  healing  the  centurion's  son  who  lay 
sick  at  Capernaum. 

From  Cana  Jesus  passed  to  Nazareth,  where  his  childhood 
had  been  spent,  and  where  he  had  been  subject  unto  his  parents. 


THE  CALLING  OF  THE  APOSTLES.      35 

increasing  in  wisdom  and  in  stature,  in  favour  with  God,  and 
in  favour  with  man;  since  among  the  Jews  fihal  duty  took 
precedence  in  honour,  of  all  other  virtues.  Jesus  entered  into 
the  synagogue,  and  was  called  upon  by  the  minister  to  read  the 
portion  of  the  prophets  appointed  for  that  day.  He  stood  up  to 
read,  as  was  the  reverential  usage  of  the  Jews,  and  when  he 
had  finished  reading,  as  was  the  custom  of  the  Jewish  teachers, 
he  sat  down,  and  the  eyes  of  all  the  synagogue  were  fastened 
upon  him,  to  hear  what  he  should  say.  He  proceeded  to  apply 
to  himself  the  words  of  the  prophet :  "  The  Spirit  of  the  Lord 
is  upon  me,  because  he  hath  anointed  me  to  preach  the  gospel 
to  the  poor:  he  hath  sent  me  to  heal  the  broken-hearted,  to 
preach  deliverance  to  the  captives,  and  recovering  of  sight  to 
the  blind,  to  set  at  liberty  them  that  are  bruised,  to  preach  the 
acceptable  year  of  the  Lord." 

"  This  day,"  said  the  Saviour,  "  is  this  scripture  fulfilled  in 
your  ears."  And  while  they  all  bear  him  witness,  and  won- 
dered at  the  gracious  words  which  proceeded  out  of  his  mouth, 
they  asked,  doubting  his  authority :  "  Is  not  this  the  carpenter's 
son  ?"  Jesus,  discerning  their  thoughts,  perceived  that  though 
they  had  heard  of  his  miracles  in  Capernaum,  those  among 
whom  the  carpenter's  son  had  passed  the  irreproachable  years 
of  his  childhood  and  youth,  refused  to  admit  his  testimony  of 
himself,  unless  whatsoever  he  had  done  in  Capernaum,  he  would 
do  in  Nazareth  also.  He  reminded  them  of  the  proverb  that 
"  No  prophet  is  accepted  in  his  own  country,"  and  cited  the 
cases  of  Elias  and  Eliseus.  The  first  performed  a  miracle  in 
behalf  of  the  Sidonian  woman,  the  second  in  that  of  the  Syrian 
leper.  The  Jews  knew  each  as  a  prophet,  if  they  would  believe ; 
but  the  proof  of  miracles  was  reserved  for  strangers.     The 


36      THE  CALLING  OF  THE  APOSTLES. 

dwellers  in  Nazareth  knew  Jesus  from  his  youth  up,  and  if  they 
did  not  receive  him,  no  miracles  would  move  their  unbelief. 
Stung  with  the  revelation  of  their  secret  thoughts  which  Jesus 
thus  presented  to  them,  and  unable  to  reply  or  to  deny  its  truth, 
they  thrust  him  out  of  the  synagogue  and  of  the  city,  and  would 
have  thrown  him  headlong  from  the  brow  of  the  hill  whereon 
Nazareth  was  built,  but  that  he,  passing  through  the  midst  of 
them,  went  his  way. 

Thence  Jesus  went  and  dwelt  at  Capernaum,  which  is  upon 
the  coast  of  the  sea  of  Galilee.  Walking  by  the  seaside  he 
found  Simon,  called  Peter,  and  Andrew  his  brother,  who  had 
not  yet  abandoned  their  employment  as  fishers,  mending  their 
nets.  Taking  advantage  of  Peter's  boat  to  avoid  the  press,  he 
sat  down  and  taught  the  people ;  and  closed  his  instructions 
with  a  miracle,  which  evinced  his  power  to  make  the  sons  of 
Jona  and  of  Zebedee,  whom  he  now  took  from  their  nets,  hence- 
forth "  fishers  of  men." 

The  next  disciple  of  whose  calling  we  hear  is  Matthew ;  and 
he  is  the  only  one,  besides  those  of  whom  we  have  spoken,  the 
circumstances  of  whose  election  are  related  in  the  Gospels.  In 
one  of  his  walks  near  Capernaum,  Jesus  saw  Matthew,  or,  as 
he  is  sometimes  called,  Levi,  sitting  at  the  receipt  of  custom,  for 
he  was  a  publican.  Upon  hearing  the  invitation,  "  Follow  me," 
Matthew  instantly  left  all,  and  followed  Jesus.  The  calling  of 
Matthew  is  placed  by  harmonists  at  or  near  the  close  of  the 
first  year  of  the  public  ministry  of  Jesus,  and  not  long  before 
the  second  Passover,  upon  which  he  went  up  to  Jerusalem. 

Early  in  the  next  year,  or  after  the  second  Passover,  Jesus 
having  remained  all  night  upon  a  mountain  in  prayer,  when  it 
was  day,  called  his  disciples  to  him.    Of  these  he  chose  twelve, 


THE  CALLING  OF  THE  APOSTLES.      37 

whom  also  he  named  Apostles :  Simon,  whom  he  surnamed 
Peter,  and  Andrew  his  brother ;  James  and  John  the  sons  of 
Zebedee,  whom  he  surnamed  Boanerges,  which  signifies  the 
sons  of  thunder ;  Philip,  and  Bartholomew,  who  is  called  by 
John,  Nathanael ;  Matthew  and  Thomas ;  James  and  Lebbeus, 
otherwise  called  Thaddeus  and  Judas,  the  sons  of  Alpheus ; 
Simon  Zelotes,  the  Canaanite,  and  Judas  Iscariot,  the  traitor. 

Judas  was  called  by  him  who  "  knew  whom  he  had  chosen, 
that  the  scripture  might  be  fulfilled,  He  that  eateth  bread  with 
me  hath  Hfted  up  his  heel  against  me."  We  read  nothing  of 
him  while  he  was  numbered  with  the  twelve,  that  leads  us  to 
suppose  his  deportment  excited  distrust  of  his  sincerity  among 
his  brethren.  He  "  obtained  part  of  the  ministry,"  and  even 
after  his  "  fall  by  transgression  that  he  might  go  to  his  own 
place,"  he  acknowledged  in  anguish  of  heart,  "  I  have  sinned  in 
that  I  have  betrayed  the  innocent  blood."  The  betrayer  could 
not  withhold  his  testimony  to  the  holiness  of  Him  whom  he  had 
sold  for  the  price  of  a  bond  servant ;  and  in  the  hour  when 
witnesses  were  suborned  to  testify  falsehoods  against  the  Son 
of  Man,  he  whose  evidence  would  have  perfected  the  work  of 
iniquity,  was  dumb  with  the  anguish  of  guilt.  Verily,  the 
foolishness  of  this  world  is  appointed  to  confound  the  wise ;  for 
the  end  of  Judas  is  a  testimony  to  the  truth  of  the  Gospels, 
which  no  ingenuity  of  infidelity  has  been  able  to  conceal  or  to 
set  aside. 

To  these  disciples  he  gave  authority  to  preach,  and  power  to 
heal  sicknesses,  and  to  cast  out  unclean  spirits ;  and  coming 
down  with  them  into  the  plain,  he  met  the  great  multitude  who 
had  assembled  to  hear  him,  and  to  be  healed  of  their  diseases. 
After  the  performance  of  such  wonderful  miracles  of  mercy, 
that  "  the  whole  multitude  sought  to  touch  him,  for  there  went 

4 


38  THE    CALLING    OF    THE   APOSTLES. 

virtue  out  of  him  and  healed  them  all ;"  he  seated  himself  upon 
the  hillside.  The  newly  appointed  Twelve,  assuming  their 
recognised  place,  "  ordained  that  they  should  be  with  him ;"  he 
lifted  up  his  eyes  upon  his  disciples,  and  taught  them  in  that 
divine  summary  of  Christian  duties,  virtues,  and  hopes,  the 
"  Sermon  on  the  Mount." 

From  this  day  forth  the  Twelve  were  in  attendance  upon  their 
Master,  witnessing  the  miracles  which  he  did,  and  blessed  with 
the  hearing,  not  only  of  his  public  preaching,  but  of  the  private 
instructions  which  he  vouchsafed  to  them,  as  to  those  to  whom 
it  was  given  "  to  know  the  mystery  of  the  kingdom  of  God." 
Theirs  was  the  evidence  of  sight ;  but  the  humble  Christian  now 
is  no  less  happy  in  the  confidence  of  faith.  "  Thomas,"  said 
Jesus  to  that  disciple,  "  because  thou  hast  seen  me  thou  hast 
believed :  blessed  are  they  that  have  not  seen  and  yet  have 

BELIEVED." 


THE   TRUE   BROTHERLY   LOVE. 


JOHN    KEBLE. 

One  of  the  two  which  heard  John  speak,  and  followed  Jesus,  was  Andrew,  Simon  Peter's 
brother.  He  first  findeth  his  own  brother  Simon,  and  saith  unto  him,  "We  have  found  the 
Messias,"  which  is,  being  interpreted,  the  Christ.  And  he  brought  him  to  Jesus.— St.  John  i. 
40-42. 


L 


When  brothers  part  for  manhood's  race, 
What  gift  may  most  endearing  prove, 

To  keep  fond  memory  in  her  place, 
And  certify  a  brother's  love  ? 


IL 


'Tis  true,  bright  hours  together  told, 
And  blissful  dreams  in  secret  shared, 

Serene  or  solemn,  gay  or  bold, 
Shall  last  in  fancy  unimpaired. 


in. 


Even  round  the  deathbed  of  the  good 
Such  dear  remembrances  will  hover. 


40        THE  TRUE  BROTHERLY  LOVE. 

And  haunt  us  with  no  vexing  mood, 
When  all  the  cares  of  life  are  over. 


IV. 

But  yet  our  craving  spirits  feel 

We  shall  live  on,  though  fancy  die, 

And  seek  a  surer  pledge — a  seal 
Of  love  to  last  eternally. 


V. 


Who  art  thou  that  wouldst  grave  thy  name 
Thus  deeply  in  a  brother's  heart  ? 

Look  on  this  saint,  and  learn  to  frame 
Thy  love-charm  with  true  Christian  art. 


VI. 


First  seek  thy  Saviour  out,  and  dwell 
Beneath  the  shadow  of  his  roof, 

Till  thou  have  scanned  his  features  well, 
And  known  Him  for  the  Christ,  by  proof. 

VII. 

Such  proof  as  they  are  sure  to  find, 
Who  spend  with  Him  their  happier  days  ; 

Clean  hands  and  a  self-ruling  mind, 
Ever  in  tune  for  love  and  praise. 


THE   TRUE   BROTHERLY   LOVE.  41 


VIII. 


Then,  potent  with  the  spell  of  Heaven, 
Go,  and  thine  erring  brother  gain ; 

Entice  him  home  to  be  forgiven, 
Till  he,  too,  see  his  Saviour  plain. 


IX. 


Or,  if  before  thee  in  the  race. 

Urge  him  with  thine  advancing  tread. 
Till,  hke  twin  stars,  with  even  pace. 

Each  lucid  course  be  duly  sped. 


X. 


No  fading,  frail  memorial  give. 

To  soothe  his  soul  when  thou  art  gone, 

But  wreaths  of  hope,  for  aye  to  live, 
And  thoughts  of  good  together  done. 


XI. 


That  so,  before  the  judgment  seat, 

Though  changed  and  glorified  each  face, 

Not  unremembered  ye  may  meet, 
For  endless  ages  to  embrace. 


4* 


INFANT    ST.    JOHN. 

HANNAH    F.    GOULD. 
"  The  disciple  whom  Jesus  loved." 

I. 

My  soul  took  wing,  and  hovered  round 
The  distant  scenes,  the  hallowed  ground, 
Where  once  the  King  of  Heaven  was  found 

A  form  of  earth  to  wear : 
The  woes  he  bore,  the  love  he  taught, 
The  death  he  slew,  the  life  he  brought, 
In  one  o'erwhelming  flood  of  thought 

Rolled  on,  and  bowed  me  there. 


II. 


I  walked  the  groves  of  Galilee ; 

I  stood  in  spirit  by  the  sea. 

And  mused  of  him,  here  called  to  be 

My  Saviour's  bosom  friend : 
Of  him  who  gave,  among  the  few 
Who  followed  Christ,  the  flower  and  dew 
Of  life  to  him :  of  things  he  knew. 

And  thought,  and  saw,  and  penned. 


INFANTST.    JOHN.  43 

III. 

These  glorious  wonders  pondering  o'er, 
I  searched  the  past  for  something  more ; 
Around  that  now  deserted  shore, 

My  solemn  fancy  roved ; 
Her  eye  grew  curious  now,  to  trace 
The  lineaments  of  peace  and  grace, 
That  marked  the  bud — the  infant  face 

Of  him  whom  Jesus  loved. 

IV. 

When  lo  !  a  lovely  vision  smiled 
Before  me,  in  a  beauteous  child. 
With  aspect  sweet,  with  eye  so  mild, 

So  deep,  so  heavenly  bright. 
The  spirit  seemed,  with  beams  divine 
To  kindle  up,  and  fill  the  shrine, 
As,  through  a  dew-drop  clear,  will  shine 

A  ray  of  morning  light. 


V. 


Though  rude  my  lines,  my  spirit  faint. 
And  faithless  here  my  hand  to  paint 
The  beauties  of  that  infant  saint 

Which  there  my  vision  blessed, — 
I  knew  it  was  the  fisher's  son. 
By  whom  such  mighty  works  were  done, 

Who  leaned  on  Jesus'  breast. 


NATHANAEL. 

JOHN    KEBLE. 

Jesus  answered  and  said  unto  him,  "  Because  I  said  unto  thee,  I  saw  thee  under  the  fig-tree, 
believest  thou?  Thou  shalt  see  greater  things  than  these.  *  *  *  Hereafter  ye  shall  see 
Heaven  opened,  and  the  angels  of  God  ascending  and  descending  upon  the  Son  of  Man."— 
St.  John  i.  50,  51. 

I. 

Hold  up  thy  mirror  to  the  sun, 

And  thou  shalt  need  an  eagle's  gaze, 

So  perfectly  the  polished  stone 
Gives  back  the  glory  of  his  rays. 

II. 

Turn  it,  and  it  shall  paint  as  true 

The  soft  green  of  the  vernal  earth, 
And  each  small  flower  of  bashful  hue 

That  closest  hides  its  lowly  birth. 

III. 

Our  mirror  is  a  blessed  book, 

Where  out  from  each  illumined  page 

We  see  one  glorious  image  look, 
All  eyes  to  dazzle  and  engage. 


NATHANAEL.  45 

IV. 

The  Son  of  God :  and  that  indeed 

We  see  Him  as  He  is,  we  know, 
Since  in  the  same  bright  glass  we  read 

The  very  Ufe  of  things  below. 

V. 

Eye  of  God's  Word !  where'er  we  turn. 

Ever  upon  us  !  thy  keen  gaze 
Can  all  the  depths  of  sin  discern, 

Unravel  every  bosom's  maze : 

VI. 

Who  that  has  felt  thy  glance  of  dread 
Thrill  through  his  heart's  remotest  cells. 

About  his  path,  about  his  bed. 

Can  doubt  what  spirit  in  thee  dwells  ? 

VII. 

"  What  word  is  this  ?    Whence  know'st  thou  me  ?" 
All  wondering  cries  the  humbled  heart, 

To  hear  thee  that  deep  mystery. 
The  knowledge  of  itself,  impart. 

VIII. 

The  veil  is  raised ;  who  runs  may  read ; 
By  its  own  light  the  truth  is  seen, 


46  NATHANAEL. 

And  soon  the  Israelite  indeed 

Bows  down  to  adore  the  Nazarene. 

IX. 

So  did  Nathanael,  guileless  man, 
At  once,  not  shamefaced  or  afraid, 

Owning  him  God,  who  so  could  scan 
His  musings  in  the  lonely  shade ; 

X. 

In  his  own  pleasant  fig-tree's  shade, 
Which  by  his  household  fountain  grew. 

Where  at  noonday  his  prayer  he  made, 
To  know  God  better  than  he  knew. 

XI. 

Oh  happy  hours  of  heavenward  thought ! 

How  richly  crowned  !  how  well  improved 
In  musing  o'er  the  law  he  taught. 

In  waiting  for  the  Lord  he  loved. 

XII. 

We  must  not  mar  with  earthly  praise 
What  God's  approving  hand  hath  sealed ; 

Enough,  if  right  our  feeble  lays 
Take  up  the  promise  he  revealed. 

XIII. 

"  The  childlike  faith,  that  asks  not  sight. 
Waits  not  for  wonder  or  for  sign, 


N  A  T  H  A  N  A  E  L.  47 

Believes,  because  it  loves,  aright — 
Shall  see  things  greater,  things  divine. 


XIV. 

"  Heaven  to  that  gaze  shall  open  wide, 
And  brightest  angels  to  and  fro 

On  messages  of  love  shall  glide, 
'Twixt  God  above  and  Christ  below.' 


XV. 

So  still  the  guileless  man  is  blest ; 

To  him  all  crooked  paths  are  straight ; 
Him,  on  his  way  to  endless  rest. 

Fresh  ever-growing  strengths  await. 

XVI. 

God's  witnesses,  a  glorious  host, 
Compass  him  daily  like  a  cloud ; 

Martyrs  and  seers,  the  saved  and  lost. 
Mercies  and  judgments  cry  aloud. 

XVII. 

Yet  shall  to  him  the  still  small  voice, 
That  first  unto  his  bosom  found 

A  way,  and  fixed  his  wavering  choice, 
Nearest  and  dearest,  ever  sound. 


JACOB'S  WELL. 


JAMES  FREEMAN  CLARKE. 


The  disciples  m.irvelled  that  he  talked  with  the  woman. — St.  John  jv.  27 


I. 


Here,  after  Jacob  parted  from  his  brother, 

His  daughters  Hngered  round  this  well,  new  made ; 

Here,  seventeen  centuries  after,  came  another, 
And  talked  with  Jesus,  wondering  and  afraid. 

Here,  other  centuries  past,  the  emperors  mother 
vSheltered  its  waters  with  a  temple's  shade. 

Here,  mid  the  fallen  fragments,  as  of  old. 

The  girl  her  pitcher  dips  within  its  waters  cold. 


IL 


And  Jacob's  race  grew  strong  for  many  an  hour. 
Then  torn  beneath  the  Roman  eagle  lay ; — 

The  Roman's  vast  and  earth-controlling  power 
Has  crumbled  like  these  shafts  and  stones  away ; 


JACOB'S   WELL.  49 

But  Still  the  waters,  fed  by  dew  and  shower, 

Come  up,  as  ever,  to  the  light  of  day ; 
And  still  the  maid  bends  downward  with  her  urn, 
Well  pleased  to  see  its  glass  her  lovely  face  return. 

III. 

And  those  few  words  of  truth  first  uttered  here, 
Have  sunk  into  the  human  soul  and  heart ; 

A  spiritual  faith  dawns  bright  and  clear. 
Dark  creeds  and  ancient  mysteries  depart ; 

The  hour  for  God's  true  worshippers  draws  near ; 
Then  mourn  not  o'er  the  wrecks  of  earthly  art : 

Kingdoms  may  fall,  and  human  works  decay, 

Nature  moves  on  unchanged — Truths  never  pass  away. 


THE   MIRACULOUS  DRAUGHT. 


Now,  when  he  had  left  speaking,  he  said  unto  Simon,  "Launch  out  into  the  deep,  and  let 
down  your  nets  for  a  draught."  And  Simon,  answering,  said  unto  him,  "  Master,  we  have  toiled 
all  the  night  and  have  taken  nothing:  nevertheless  at  thy  word,  I  will  let  down  the  net."— St. 
Luke  v.  4,  5. 

I. 

How  long  o'er  the  lake  hung  the  shadows  of  night 
That  fell  from  the  brow  of  the  mountain  around ! 

And  pale  gleamed  the  moon  in  her  palace  of  light, 
While  scarcely  was  heard  through  the  welkin  a  sound. 

II. 

All  bootless  their  toil,  and  their  sigh  filled  the  gale, 
When  blushed  on  the  highlands  the  dawning  of  day ; 

In  silence  and  sadness  they  spread  their  white  sail, 
And  hied  on  the  face  of  the  waters  away. 

III. 

But  who  on  that  shore  moves  majestic  along  ? 

His  eye  beaming  mercy — his  arm  clothed  with  might ! 
How  he  holds  in  suspense  the  wondering  throng, 

While  they  hang  on  his  lips,  all  entranced  with  delight ! 


THE  MIRACULOUS  DRAUGHT.         51 

IV. 

How  calmed  are  the  billows  !  how  stilled  is  the  breeze  ! 

Earth,  water,  and  winds,  him  their  Sovereign  confess ; 
E'en  the  birds  hush  their  chorus  amidst  the  tall  trees, 

And  the  children  of  sorrow  forget  their  distress. 


None  lose  by  the  Saviour ;  once  more  at  thy  word 
The  nets  are  extended  beneath  the  blue  sea ; 

The  tribes  of  the  wide  weltering  waves  own  their  Lord, 
And  hasten  to  pay  their  allegiance  to  thee. 


THE   POOL   OF   BETHESDA. 

BERNARD    BARTON. 

And  a  certain  man  was  there,  which  had  an  infirmity  eight  and  thirty  years.  When  Jesus 
saw  him  lie,  and  knew  that  he  had  been  now  a  long  time  in  that  case,  he  saith  unto  him, 
"  Wilt  thou  be  made  whole  ?"  The  impotent  man  answered  him,  "  Sir,  I  have  no  man  when 
the  water  is  troubled  to  put  me  into  the  pool ;  but  while  I  am  coming,  another  steppeth  down 
before  me."  Jesus  saith  unto  him,  "Rise,  take  up  thy  bed,  and  walk."  And  immediately  the 
man  was  made  whole,  and  took  up  his  bed  and  walked.— St.  John  v.  5-9. 

Pale,  weary  watcher  by  Bethesda's  pool, 

From  dewy  morn,  to  silent,  glowing  eve ; 
While  round  thee  play  the  freshening  breezes  cool, 
Why  wilt  thou  grieve  1 

Listen !  and  thou  shalt  hear  the  unearthly  tread 
Of  heaven's  bright  herald  passing  swiftly  by, 
O'er  the  calm  pool  his  healing  wing  to  spread : 
Why  wilt  thou  die  ? 

At  his  approach,  once  more  the  troubled  wave 

Leaps  gushing  into  life,  its  torpor  gone ; 
Once  more  called  forth  its  boasted  power  to  save, 
Which  else  had  none  ! 


THEPOOLOFBETHESDA.  53 

Ah  !  then  his  spirit  feels  a  deeper  grief, 

When  o'er  the  rippUng  surface  healing  flows ; 
His  wasted  limbs  experience  no  relief; 
No  help  he  knows  ! 

Healing,  and  strength,  and  cure  for  all  his  wo, 

May  linger  round  that  sacred  fountain's  brim ; 
Yet  all  unable  he  one  step  to  go : 

No  cure  for  him  ! 

No  friend  is  watching  there,  whose  anxious  love 

For  him  prompt  access  to  the  pool  can  win ; 
Soon  as  the  angel  did  the  waters  move. 
Others  stepped  in ! 

Oh  ye  !  who  idly  pass  unheeding  by. 

Knew  ye  the  sickening  pang  of  hope  delayed, 
Your  listless  steps  would  eagerly  press  nigh, 
And  give  him  aid. 

Ah  !  wretched  lot,  of  gnawing  want  to  die, 

While  smiUng  plenty  mocks  us  all  around ; 
Or,  shipwrecked,  watch,  as  we  all  helpless  lie. 
Others  home-bound ! 

Yet  sadder  far,  to  him  who  reads  aright 
The  story  of  our  being's  end  and  aim. 
The  spirit  darkened  'mid  surrounding  light, 
By  sin  and  shame  ! 
5* 


54  THEPOOLOFBETHESDA. 

To  see  the  impervious  clouds  of  prejudice, 

Round  whicii  the  sunbeams  pour  their  hght  in  vain ; 
The  dead  soul,  fettered  by  the  films  of  vice. 
Knows  not  its  chain. 

Then  if  thy  spirit  freedom,  knowledge  drink. 

Bathed  in  that  living  fount  which  maketh  pure. 
Oh !  aid  thy  brother,  ere  he  helpless  sink, 
To  work  his  cure  ! 

Hopeless,  and  helpless,  vainly  did  he  turn 

For  help  or  pity  to  the  busy  throng ; 
Yet  found  them  both  in  One,  whose  heart  did  burn 
With  love,  how  strong ! 


CHRIST    IN   THE    STORM. 


R.    BROWN. 

And  behold  there  arose  a  great  tempest  in  the  sea,  insomuch  that  the  ship  was  covered  with 
the  waves :  but  he  was  asleep.  And  his  disciples  came  to  him  and  awoke  him,  saying,  "  Lord, 
save  us :  we  perish."  Then  he  arose  and  rebuked  the  winds  and  the  sea,  and  there  was  a  great 
calm. — St.  M.\.tthew  vii.  24-26. 


I. 

Where  deep  Tiberias  rolls  her  waves, 
The  lowly  fisher's  bark  was  gliding ; 

The  winds  were  hushed  within  their  caves; 
And  gaily  on  the  waters  riding, 

Was  seen  the  bark  of  Galilee, 

A  speck  upon  that  summer  sea. 

II. 

But  deep  and  hollow  murmurs  came. 
That  heralded  the  tempest  waking, 

The  gathering  cloud  and  flickering  flame. 
And  thunders  in  the  distance  breaking, 

The  storm's  first  drops  and  fitful  breeze. 

That  curled  the  bosom  of  the  seas. 


56  CHRISTINTHESTORM. 

III. 

And  wild  and  high  the  billows  rose, 

Fearful  in  strength,  and  proudly  foaming ; 

Starting  like  maniacs  from  repose, 

Or  dark  and  heartless  plunderers  roaming ; 

With  ruffian  grasp  they  bore  away 

That  thing  of  nought,  their  sport  and  spray. 

IV. 

Now,  trembling  on  the  mountain  surge, 
Now,  dashed  amid  the  deep's  commotion. 

Now,  hurried  as  the  tempests  urge, 
Swift  as  the  sea-bird  o'er  the  ocean, — 

Now,  fluttering  o'er  the  dark  abyss. 

As  wearied  with  its  wretchedness. 

V. 

Despair  came  o'er  the  sailor's  brow, 
Amid  the  whirlwinds  fiercely  sweeping  ; 

But  One  was  slumbering  on  the  prow, 
Like  peace  amid  the  tempest  sleeping — 

Whom,  cradled  on  their  foamy  crest. 

The  angry  waves  had  rocked  to  rest. 

VI. 

The  mariners,  'mid  storm  and  gloom. 
And  high  upon  the  breaking  billow, 


CHRISTINTHESTORM.  57 

Turned,  as  for  refuge  from  the  tomb, 

And  knelt  and  prayed  around  his  pillow  : 
Wake  !  Master,  wake !  our  bark  is  gone ; 
And  hope  remains  with  thee  alone. 


VII. 

Serene  as  Deity  he  stood — 

The  friend  of  man — the  angels'  wonder — 
Girt  with  the  attributes  of  God, 

To  calm  the  wave,  and  hush  the  thunder : 
The  stormy  vassals  of  his  will 
Heard  but  their  Lord,  and  all  was  still. 

VIII. 

"  Peace !  be  still !"     The  whirlwinds  fled— 
The  conscious  billow  shrunk  before  him ; 

While  Nature  all  her  glories  shed. 
And  smiling,  hastened  to  adore  him ; 

Man,  trembling,  heard  the  omnific  Word, 

And  silently  confessed  his  Lord. 


LITTLE  CHILDREN  BLESSED. 

C.    HUNTINGTON. 

And  they  brought  young  children  to  him,  that  he  should  touch  them  :  and  his  disciples  re- 
buked those  that  brought  them.  But  when  Jesus  saw  it  he  was  much  displeased,  and  said 
unto  them,  "  Suffer  the  little  children  to  com«  unto  me,  and  forbid  them  not :  for  of  such  is  the 
kingdom  of  heaven."— St.  Mark  x.  13,  14. 

It  was  the  sunset  hour — and  thousands  came 
From  the  lone  villages  and  distant  hills  » 

Of  far-off  Galilee,  to  meet  the  Lord — 
Bearing,  with  gentle  step  and  anxious  eye. 
The  sufferers  of  their  race  to  Jesus'  feet. 
That  he  might  lay  his  sin-subduing  hand 
In  blessing  on  their  wan  and  wasted  frames, 
And  heal  them  with  a  sanctifying  touch. 
****** 

Amid  the  crowds  that,  with  adoring  looks, 
Hung  on  the  footsteps  of  the  Son  of  God, 
A  Galilean  mother  brought  her  child. 
In  its  young  loveliness — its  laughing  eyes 
Dancing  in  dewy  light — and,  kneeling,  prayed 


LITTLE   CHILDREN   BLESSED.  59 

A  benediction  from  those  sinless  lips 
Upon  the  cherub-beauty  of  the  babe — 
But  the  disciples,  with  officious  zeal, 
Silenced  the  suppliant  with  this  stern  rebuke — 
"  Why  troublest  thou  the  Master  ?" 

Jesus  heard, 
And  in  displeasure  turned  his  radiant  eye 
With  a  reproving  glance  on  him  that  spake ; 
Then,  in  a  voice  of  calm  authority, 
With  gentle  accents  briefly  thus  replied — 
"  Suffer  these  little  ones  to  come  to  me, 
Nor  let  them  be  forbidden — for  of  such 
My  Father's  kingdom  is." 

Then  Jesus  took  the  infant  in  his  arms, 
And  gently,  w^ith  his  blessed  hand,  put  back 
The  silken  curls  that  clustered  on  its  brow ; 
And,  bending  o'er  it,  pressed  his  holy  lips 
Upon  the  stainless  forehead  of  the  babe — 
Making  the  brow  of  childhood,  from  that  hour, 
A  thing  of  holiness — the  only  shrine 
Which  the  Redeemer  hallowed  with  a  kiss. 

"  Suffer  these  little  ones  to  come  to  me," 
Was  the  command  of  Him  who,  on  the  cross. 
Bowed  his  anointed  head,  and  with  his  blood 
Purchased  redemption  for  our  fallen  race — 
And  blessed  they  !  who  to  that  holy  task 
Devote  the  energies  of  their  young  years ; 
Teaching  with  pious  care,  the  dawning  light 


60  LITTLE    CHILDREN   BLESSED. 

Of  infant  intellect  to  know  the  Lord : 

Thrice  blessed  they  !  who  guide,  with  gentle  hand, 

The  timid  steps  of  childhood  in  that  path 

Which,  rightly  trodden,  leads  the  wanderers  home. 

Where  they  shall  meet,  the  teachers  and  the  taught. 

On  that  blest  Sabbath,  which  shall  have  no  end. 


THE    RULER'S    FAITH. 

LYDIA    HUNTLEY    SIGOURNEY. 

'  Come,  lay  thy  hand  upon  her,  and  she  shall  live."    And  Jesus  arose  aiul  follcnvcd  him,  md 
so  did  his  disciples. — St.  Matthew  ix.  18,  19. 

Death  cometh  to  the  chamber  of  the  sick  : 
The  ruler's  daughter,  Hke  the  peasant's  child, 
Turns  pale  as  marble.     Hark  !  that  hollow  moan, 
Which  none  may  soothe,  and  then  the  last  faint  breath 
Subsiding  with  a  shudder. 

Deep  the  wail 
That  speaks  an  idol  fallen  from  the  shrine 
Of  a  fond  parent's  heart.     A  withered  flower, 
Is  there,  oh  mother,  where  thy  proudest  hope 
Solaced  itself  with  garlands,  and  beheld 
New  buddings  every  morn. 

Father,  'tis  o'er ! 
That  voice  is  silent  which  had  been  thy  harp, 
Quickening  thy  footsteps  nightly  toward  thy  home, 

6 


62  THE   RULER'S    FAITH. 

Mingling,  perchance,  an  echo  all  too  deep 
Even  with  thy  temple  worship,  when  the  soul 
Should  deal  with  God  alone. 

What  stranger-step 
Breaketh  the  trance  of  grief?     Whose  radiant  brow 
In  meekness  and  in  majesty  doth  bend 
Beside  the  bed  of  death  ? 

"  She  doth  but  sleep ; 
The  damsel  is  not  dead."" 

A  smothered  hiss, 
Contemptuous,  rises  from  that  wondering  band, 
Who  beat  the  breast,  and  raise  the  licensed  wail 
Of  Judah's  mourning. 

Look  upon  the  dead  ! 
Heaves  not  the  winding-sheet  ?     Those  trembling  lids, 
What  peers  beneath  their  fringes,  like  the  tint 
Of  dewy  violet  ?     The  blanched  lips  dispart. 
And  what  a  quivering  long-drawn  sigh  restores 
Their  rose-leaf  beauty.     Lo  !  that  clay-cold  hand 
Doth  clasp  the  Master's,  and,  with  sudden  spring, 
That  shrouded  sleeper,  like  a  timid  fawn. 
Hides  in  her  mother's  bosom.     Faith's  strong  root 
Was  in  the  parent's  spirit,  and  its  fruit 
How  beautiful ! 

Oh,  mother !  who  dost  gaze 
Upon  thy  daughter,  in  that  deeper  sleep. 
Which  threats  the  soul's  salvation,  breathe  her  name 
To  thy  Redeemer's  ear,  both  when  she  smiles 
In  all  her  glowing  beauty  on  the  morn. 
Or  when  at  night  her  clustering  tresses  sweep 


THE    RULER'S    FAITH.  63 

Her  downy  pillow,  in  the  trance  of  dreams, 
Or  when  at  pleasure's  beckoning  she  goes  forth, 
Or  to  the  meshes  of  an  earthly  love 
Yields  her  young  heart,  be  eloquent  for  her, 
Take  no  denial,  till  the  gracious  hand. 
Which  raised  the  ruler's  dead,  give  life  to  her, 
That  better  life,  whose  power  surmounts  the  tomb. 


THE    TRANSFIGURATION. 

JOHN    NORRIS.* 

Jesus  taketh  Peter,  James,  and  John  liis  brother,  and  bringeth  them  up  into  an  liigh  nioun- 
lain  apart,  and  was  transfigured  before  them:  and  his  face  did  shine  as  tlie  sun,  and  his  rai- 
ment was  white  as  the  light.— St.  M.vtthew  xvii.  1,  2. 

I. 

Hail  !  King  of  glory,  clad  in  robes  of  light, 

Outshining  all  we  here  call  bright ! 

Hail,  light's  divinest  galaxy  ! 

Hail,  express  image  of  the  Deity ! 

Could  now  thy  faithful  spouse  thy  beauties  view. 

How  would  her  wounds  all  bleed  anew  ! 

Lovely  thou  art  all  o'er  and  bright. 

Thou  Israel's  glory,  and  thou  Gentile's  light. 

II. 

But  whence  this  brightness,  whence  this  sudden  day  ? 

Who  did  thee  thus  with  light  array  ? 

Did  thy  divinity  dispense 

To  its  consort  a  more  liberal  influence  ? 

*  Born  1G57;  died  1711. 


THE  TRANSFIGURATION.  65 

Or  did  some  curious  angel's  chymic  art 
The  spirits  of  purest  light  impart, 
Drawn  from  the  native  spring  of  day, 
And  wrought  into  an  organized  ray  ? 

III. 

Howe'er  'twas  done,  'tis  glorious  and  divine ; 
Thou  dost  with  radiant  wonders  shine : 
The  sun,  and  his  bright  company. 
Are  all  gross  meteors,  if  compared  to  thee : 
Thou  art  the  fountain  whence  their  light  does  flow. 
But  to  thy  will  thine  own  dost  owe ; 
For  (as  at  first)  thou  didst  but  say, 
"  Let  there   be  light,"  and   straight  sprang  forth  this 
wondrous  day. 

IV. 

Let  now  the  Eastern  princes  come  and  bring 

Their  tributary  oflering. 

There  needs  no  star  to  guide  their  flight ; 

They'll  find  thee  now,  great  King,  by  thine  own  light. 

And  thou,  my  soul,  adore,  love,  and  admire, 

And  follow  this  bright  guide  of  fire. 

Do  thou  thy  hymns  and  praises  bring, 

Whilst  angels,  with  veiled  faces,  anthems  sing. 


6* 


THE  BLIND   RESTORED  TO  SIGHT. 

J  0  H  i\     H.     BRYANT. 

And  I  went  and  washed,  and  I  received  sight.— St.  John  ix.  11. 
I. 

When  the  great  Master  spoke, 

He  touched  his  withered  eyes, 
And  at  one  gleam  upon  him  broke 

The  glad  earth  and  the  skies. 

II. 

And  he  saw  the  city's  walls, 

And  kings'  and  prophets'  tomb. 
And  mighty  arches,  and  vaulted  halls, 

And  the  temple's  lofty  dome. 

III. 

He  looked  on  the  river's  flood, 

And  the  flash  of  mountain  rills, 
And  the  gentle  wave  of  the  palms  that  stood 

Upon  Judea's  hills. 


THE  BLIND  RESTORED  TOSIGHT.       67 

IV. 

He  saw  on  heights  and  plains 

Creatures  of  every  race : 
But  a  mighty  thrill  went  through  his  veins 

When  he  met  the  human  face ; 

V. 

And  his  virgin  sight  beheld 

The  ruddy  glow  of  even, 
And  the  thousand  shining  orbs  that  filled 

The  azure  depths  of  heaven. 

VI. 

And  woman's  voice  before 

Had  cheered  his  gloomy  night, 
But  to  see  the  angel  form  she  wore 

Made  deeper  the  delight ; 

VII. 

And  his  heart,  at  daylight's  close, 

For  the  bright  world  where  he  trod, 
And  when  the  yellow  morn  arose, 

Gave  speechless  thanks  to  God. 


THE    RAISING   OF    LAZARUS. 


ANONYMOUS. 


Then  said  Jesus  unto  them  plainly,  "  Lazarus  is  dead.  And  I  am  glad,  for  your  sakes  that  I 
was  not  there,  to  the  intent  ye  may  believe ;  nevertheless  let  us  go  unto  him."— St.  John 
xi.  14,  15. 

The  sepulchre  was  gaping  wide, 

Its  closing-stone  was  rolled  aside, 

And  shuddering  crowds  pressed  round,  to  win 

A  sight  of  the  foul  scene  within. 

The  charnel-stream,  too  strong  to  bear. 

Ascended  on  the  healthful  air, 

And  groaning  deep  for  him  who  slept, 

Ev'n  Christ  stood  at  the  grave — and  wept, 

He  wept ! — but  his  was  not  the  tear 

Of  human  grief,  on  human  bier, 

That  gushes,  trustless  of  to-morrow, 

In  unassuaged  excess  of  sorrow ; 

And  yet  he  wept ! — though  there  he  stood, 

In  power's  unquestioned  plenitude, 

While  every  sacred  drop  that  fell 

Was  life  to  death — was  death  to  hell ! 


THE    RAISING    OF   LAZARUS.  59 

But  closer  now,  and  closer  grew 
The  press  of  the  surrounding  crew, 
Who  wist  not  that  he  came  to  save. 
As  he  stooped  o'er  the  dead  man's  grave. 
And  gazed  with  self-communing  air 
For  a  short  space,  in  silence  there ; 
Nearer  he  stooped — and  yet  more  near — 
Hark !  heard  ye  not,  like  trumpet  clear, 
His  life-shout  in  that  mouldering  ear  1 
Forth  sent  the  tomb  its  hidden  birth. 
For  He  who  called  was  God  on  earth  ! 

Not  faster  answers  to  the  flash 
Of  heaven,  the  illuminated  ash, 
Than  following  that  resistless  word, 
The  dead  sprang  forth  before  his  Lord. 
Bound  hand  and  foot  with  funeral  clothes, 
In  life — in  breathing  life — he  rose, 
And  cast  amid  the  astonished  crowd, 
From  his  freed  limbs,  the  loosened  shroud ! 
Health's  crimson  light  o'erspread  his  face, 
His  eye  was  fii*e,  his  step  was  grace, — 
But,  like  the  first  framed  of  mankind. 
Ere  his  full  heart  might  utterance  find. 
Complete  in  sense,  and  limb,  and  motion. 
Absorbed  he  stood  in  rapt  devotion. 
While  through  each  uncollapsing  vein 
The  rushing  life-streams  burst  again. 

All  turned  to  Christ — but  hi7n,  with  eye 
Serenely  lifted  to  the  sky. 


70  THE    RAISING    OF   LAZARUS. 

Symbol,  nor  sign  of  outward  power, 
Distinguished  in  that  holy  hour. 
His  hand  yet  on  the  marble  rested. 
Where  late  the  revelling  worm  was  rife — 
And  awe-struck  multitudes  attested, 
"  The  Resurrection  and  the  Life." 


THE  ENTRY   INTO  JERUSALEM. 

ANONYMOUS. 

And  a  very  great  multitude  spread  their  garments  in  the  way  :  and  others  cut  down  branches 
from  the  trees  and  strewed  them  in  the  way.  And  the  multitude,  that  went  before  and  that 
followed  cried,  saying,  "  Hosanna  to  the  Son  of  David :  blessed  is  he  that  conieth  in  the  name 
of  the  Lord:  hosanna  in  the  highest." — St.  Matthew  xxi.  8,  9. 

I. 

Look  at  his  train,  the  dead  are  living  there  ; 

The  lame  are  in  his  blessed  footsteps  bounding ; 
The  blind  are  gazing  on  their  leader  fair ; 

The  deaf,  the  dumb  his  perfect  praise  resounding ; 
The  widow  on  her  raised  son  is  leaning ; 

The  father  clasps  his  daughter  roused  from  sleep ; 
And  broken  hearts,  through  eyes  of  joyous  meaning, 

Meet  his  kind  glance  who  bade  them  not  to  weep. 

II. 

There  is  no  banner  waving  o'er  his  head. 

But  the  light  blossoms  of  the  palm-tree  bending ; 

Not  with  rich  flowers,  or  gems,  his  path  is  spread. 
But  there  long  robes  in  rainbow  tints  are  blending ; 


72  THE   ENTRY    INTO    JERUSALEM. 

No  herald  trumpet  of  his  coming  tells, 
But  children  carol  in  triumphant  mirth, 

And  to  the  sky  their  sweet  hosanna  swells 
The  full,  the  joyous  jubilee  of  earth. 

III. 

Daughter  of  Zion  !  bow  in  holy  shame ; 

Thou  didst  refuse  thy  rightful  Lord  to  meet ; 
Unto  his  Father's  house,  to  thee,  he  came, 

Yet  found  not  where  to  rest  his  weary  feet. 
Yes,  scornful  Judah !  hadst  thou  known  thy  day, 

Thine  were  a  splendid,  a  secure  estate ; 
But  when  thy  Sovereign  turned  in  wrath  away. 

Thy  house  was  left  unto  thee  desolate. 


THE   WIDOW'S   MITE. 

LETITIA    E.    LANDON. 

And  he  looked  up  and  saw  the  rich  men  casting  their  gifts  into  the  treasury.  And  he  saw, 
also,  a  certain  poor  widow  casting  in  thither  two  mites.  And  he  said,  "  Of  a  truth  I  say  unto 
you  that  this  poor  widow  hath  cast  in  more  than  they  all." — St.  Luke  x.\i.  1-3. 

I. 

It  is  the  fruit  of  waking  hours, 

When  others  are  asleep, 
When  moaning  round  the  low  thatched  roof, 

The  winds  of  winter  creep. 

11. 

It  is  the  fruit  of  sumnner  days, 

Passed  in  a  gloomy  room, 
When  others  are  abroad,  to  taste 

The  pleasant  morning  bloom. 

III. 

'Tis  given  from  a  scanty  store. 

And  missed  while  it  is  given : 
'Tis  given,  for  the  claims  of  earth 

Are  less  than  those  of  heaven. 

7 


74  THE   WIDOW'S    MITE. 

IV. 
Few,  save  the  poor,  feel  for  the  poor ; 

The  rich  know  not  how  hard 
It  is  to  be  of  needful  food 

And  needful  rest  debarred. 

V. 

Their  paths  are  paths  of  plenteousness, 
They  sleep  on  silk  and  down, 

And  never  think  how  heavily 
The  weary  head  lies  down. 

VI. 

They  know  not  of  the  scanty  meal. 
With  small  pale  faces  round  ; 

No  fire  upon  the  cold  damp  hearth. 
When  snow  is  on  the  ground. 

VII. 

They  never  by  their  window  sit. 
And  see  the  gay  pass  by ; 

Yet  take  their  weary  work  again, 
Though  with  a  mournful  eye. 

VIII. 

The  rich,  they  give — they  miss  it  not — 

A  blessing  cannot  be. 
Like  that  which  rests,  thou  widow'd  one. 

Upon  thy  gift  and  thee. 


L 


WHO   GAZES   FROM   MOUNT   OLIVET! 

WILLIAM    B.    TAPFAN. 

And  as  he  sat  upon  the  Mount  of  Olives,  over  against  the  temple,  Peter,  and  James,  and 
John,  and  Andrew,  asked  him  privately,  "Tell  us  when  shall  these  things  be?" — St.  Mark 
xiii.  3,  4. 

Who  gazes  from  Mount  Olivet, 

His  dovelike  eyes  with  sorrow  wet — 

His  bosom  with  compassion  heaving, 

His  mighty  heart  with  sorrow  grieving  ? 

Who  searches  with  unerring  eye 

Into  thy  sad  futurity, 

Jerusalem !  and  sees  thy  doom 

Written  by  imperial  Rome ; — 

Famine,  Slaughter,  Fire,  agreed 

On  thy  precious  ones  to  feed, 

Ruin  round  thy  bulwarks  wrap, 

And  the  pagan  eagle  flap 

O'er  the  sacred  mercy  seat  ? 

Who  is  he  that  sees  it  all  1 

Sees,  when  sacrilegious  feet 


76  WHO    GAZES    FROM   MOUNT    OLIVET? 

Tread  on  Zion — when  the  call 
Is  for  vengeance  most  complete? 
He,  the  prophet,  pilgrim-shod ; 
He,  the  very  Son  of  God ! 

Years  sweep  on ! — Jerusalem  ! 
Thee  the  Roman  armies  hem. 
Countless  legions  on  thee  press ; 
Clouds  of  arrows  thee  distress ; 
Stone  and  dart  and  javelin 
Entrance  to  thy  treasures  win. 
Hippicus,  Antonia,  fall, 
Mariamne — and  thy  wall 
Pierced  with  gates  of  burnished  gold — 
And  the  holy  house  of  old, 
Yield  unto  the  dreadful  strife. 
Heavens  !  the  sacrifice  of  life ! 
Murder,  plunder,  leagued  in  band, 
Stalk  amid  thee,  hand  in  hand ; — 
Cedron  is  a  pool  of  gore. 
Olivet  is  fortress  made. 
Mercy  !  that  the  towers  of  yore, 
Courts  that  saw  the  world  adore, 
Should  in  dust  and  blood  be  laid ! 
Who  directs  the  furious  war? 
He,  alone,  whose  prescience  saw — 
Mightier  than  Vespasian's  son — 
He  the  ruthless  fight  has  won, 
He  the  wine-press  here  has  trod, 
He,  the  very  Son  of  God ! 


THE    MEMORIAL   OF   MARY. 

FELICIA    HEMANS. 

There  came  unto  him  a  woman  having  an  alabaster  box  of  very  precious  ointment,  and 
poured  it  on  his  liead  as  he  sat  at  meat.  But  vvlien  his  disciples  saw  it,  they  had  indignation, 
saying,  "To  what  purpose  is  this  waste?"  *  *  *  When  Jesus  understood  it,  he  said, 
"  Why  trouble  ye  the  woman,  for  she  hath  wrought  a  good  work  on  me.  *  *  *  Verily  I 
say  unto  you,  wheresoever  this  Gospel  shall  be  preached,  in  the  whole  world,  there  shall  also 
this,  that  this  woman  hath  done,  be  told  for  a  memorial  of  her."— St.  Matthew  xxvi.  7-13. 

Thou  hast  thy  record  in  the  monarch's  hall ; 

And  on  the  waters  of  the  far  mid  sea ; 
And  where  the  mighty  mountain-shadows  fall, 

The  Alpine  hamlet  keeps  a  thought  of  thee : 

Where'er  beneath  some  oriental  tree, 
The  Christian  traveller  rests — where'er  the  child 

Looks  upward  from  the  English  mother's  knee, 
With  earnest  eyes  in  wondering  reverence  mild. 
There  art  thou  known — where'er  the  Book  of  Light 
Bears  hope  and  healing,  there,  beyond  all  blight. 

Is  borne  thy  memory,  and  all  praise  above ; 
Oh !  say,  what  deed  so  lifted  thy  sweet  name, 
Mary !  to  that  pure  silent  place  of  fame  ? 

One  lowly  office  of  exceeding  love ! 

7* 


BLESSING    THE    BREAD. 

THOMAS    DALE. 

And  as  they  were  eating,  Jesus  took  bread  and  blessed  it,  and  brake  it,  and  gave  it  to  iiis 
disciples,  and  said,  "  Take,  eat ;  this  is  my  body."  And  he  took  the  cup,  and  gave  thanks,  and 
gave  it  to  them,  saying,  "  Drink  ye  all  of  it ;  for  this  is  my  blood  of  the  new  testament,  which 
is  shed  for  many  for  the  remission  of  sins."— St.  Matthew  xxvi.  26-28. 

I. 

Onward  it  speeds,  the  awful  hour  from  man's  first  fall  decreed, 
When  the  dark  serpent's  wrath  shall  bruise  the  woman's  spot- 
less seed ; 
The  foe  He  met — the  desert  path  triumphantly  He  trod, 
And  now  a  darker,  deadlier  strife  awaits  the  Son  of  God. 

II. 

Soon  shall  a  strange  and  midnight  gloom  involve  the  conscious 

Heaven, 
While  in  Jehovah's  inmost  fane  the  mystic  veil  is  riven ! 
Soon  shall  one  deep  and  dying  groan  the  solid  mountains  rend ; 
The  yawning  grave  shall  yield  their  dead,  the  buried  saints 

ascend ! 


BLESSING    THE    BREAD.  79 

III. 

And  yet,  amidst  his  little  flock,  still  Jesus  stands,  serene. 
Unawed  by  sufferings  yet  to  be,  unchanged  by  what  hath  been ; 
Still  beams  the  light  of  love  undimmed  in  that  benignant  eye. 
Nor,  save  his  own  prophetic  word,  aught  speaks  him  soon  to 
die! 

IV. 

He  pours  within  the  votive  cup,  the  rich  blood  of  the  vine. 
And,  "  Drink  ye  all  the  hallowed  draught,"  he  cries,  "this  blood 

is  mine." 
He  breaks  the  bread :  then  clasps  his  hands,  and  lifts  his  eyes  in 

prayer, 
"  Receive  ye  this,  and  view  by  faith  my  body  symbolled  there ! 

V. 

"  For  like  the  wine  that  crowns  this  cup,  my  blood  shall  soon 

be  shed ; 
My  body  broken  on  the  cross,  as  now  I  break  the  bread : 
For  you  the  crimson  stream  shall  flow — for  you  the  hand  divine 
Bares  the  red  sword,  although  the  heart  that  meets  the  blows 

be  mine ! 

VI. 

"  And  oft  your  willing  steps  renew,  around  the  sacred  board. 
And  break  the  bread  and  pour  the  wine  in  mem'ry  of  your 

Lord : 
To  drink  with  me  the  grape's  fresh  juice  to  you  shall  yet  be 

given. 
Fresh  from  the  deathless  vine  that  blooms  in  blest  abodes  of 

heaven !" 


INVOCATION. 


ROBERT    HERRICK. 


But  the  Comforter,  which  is  the  Holy  Ghost,  wlioni  the  Father  will  send  you  in  my  name,  he 
shall  teach  you  all  things,  and  bring  all  things  to  your  remembrance,  whatsoever  I  have  said 
unto  you. — St.  John  xiv.  26. 

In  the  hour  of  my  distress, 
When  temptations  me  oppress, 
And  when  I  my  sins  confess, 

Sweet  Spirit,  comfort  me. 

When  I  he  within  my  bed. 
Sick  in  heart  and  sick  in  head. 
And  with  doubts  disquieted, 

Sweet  Spirit,  comfort  me. 

When  the  house  doth  sigh  and  weep. 
And  the  world  is  drowned  in  sleep, 
Yet  mine  eyes  the  watch  do  keep. 
Sweet  Spirit,  comfort  me. 

When  the  passing  bell  doth  toll, 
And  the  furies,  in  a  shoal, 
Come  to  fright  my  parting  soul. 
Sweet  Spirit,  comfort  me. 


INVOCATION.  81 

When  the  priest  his  last  hath  prayed, 
And  I  nod  to  what  is  said, 
'Cause  my  speech  is  now  decayed. 
Sweet  Spirit,  comfort  me. 

When  God  knows,  I'm  tossed  about. 
Either  with  despair  or  doubt, 
Yet  before  the  glass  be  out. 

Sweet  Spirit,  comfort  me. 

When  the  Tempter  me  pursu'th 
With  the  sins  of  all  my  youth. 
And  half  damns  me  with  untruth, 
Sweet  Spirit,  comfort  me. 

When  the  flames  and  hellish  cries 
Fright  mine  ears  and  fright  mine  eyes. 
And  all  terrors  me  surprise, 

Sweet  Spirit,  comfort  me. 

When  the  judgment  is  revealed, 
And  that  opened  which  was  sealed. 
When  to  Thee  I  have  appealed. 
Sweet  Spirit,  comfort  me. 


THE    PEACE    OF    GOD. 

WILLIS    GAYLORD    CLARKE. 

Peace  I  leave  with  you,  my  peace  I  give  unto  you  :  not  as  the  world  giveth  give  I  unto  you : 
let  not  your  heart  be  troubled,  neither  let  it  be  afraid.— St.  John  .\iv.  27. 

Thus  spake  the  blessed  Lord, 
When  the  Last  Supper's  sacred  hour  was  done ; 

And  each  reviving  w^ord 
Came,  like  rich  incense  from  an  altar-stone : 
Kind,  from  those  holy  lips,  so  soon  to  breathe 
Their  last  forgiveness  forth,  and  taste  the  cup  of  death. 

"  Peace,  peace  I  leave  with  you !" 
Thus  to  his  flock  the  glorious  Shepherd  said ; 

And,  pure  as  morning  dew 
On  Hermon's  mount,  or  marge  of  Jordan  shed, 
A  spell  descended  on  the  group  around — 
A  charm  of  kindling  hope — of  confidence  profound. 

"  My  peace  to  you  I  give, 
Won  from  the  immortal  home  of  bliss  above. 
Where  the  redeemed  shall  live. 


THE   PEACE    OF   GOD. 


83 


In  many  mansions  of  eternal  love ; — 

Peace,  like  its  radiant  source,  serene  and  calm, 

Where  flowers  unblighted  bloom,  and  all  the  air  is  balm. 

"  Not  as  the  world  bestows 
Its  fleeting  gifts,  I  yield  my  peace  to  you ; 

No  clouds  of  death  can  close 
Around  my  Father's  house,  or  dim  the  view 
Where  fadeless  lustre  fills  the  gorgeous  sky. 
And  sinks  into  the  soul,  and  lights  the  enraptured  eye. 

"  Earth  has  no  fount  of  peace : 
Sins,  sicknesses,  and  death  begird  it  round ; 

Its  hopes  untimely  cease ; 
And  baseless  dreams  its  dim  dominion  bound ; 
Here  fond  Affection  no  repose  can  gain. 
And  the  gaunt  miser  hoards  his  gold  in  vain. 

"  Here  sorrow  comes  to  all — 
For  pale  Mortality  his  standard  rears 

Beside  the  bier  and  pall  ; 
And  smiles  are  quenched  in  unavailing  tears  ; 
To  Joy's  light  laugh  succeeds  the  weary  sigh, 
And  no  sweet  rose  may  blossom,  but  to  die. 

"  Then,  with  untroubled  heart. 
Look  upward  to  your  home  to  which  I  go ; 

And  ere  I  yet  depart 
From  toil,  and  suffering,  and  death  below, 
Let  my  farewell  of  peace  your  steps  attend — 
I  go,  to  meet  in  heaven,  my  Father  and  your  Friend." 


84  THEPEACEOFGOD. 

And  thus  the  Saviour,  died  ! 
Thus,  to  the  hill  of  blood,  he  went  his  way, 

And  there  was  crucified, 
While  a  world's  guilt  upon  his  bosom  lay ; 
How  should  that  risen  Lord  be  praised  and  blest. 
Who  drained  the  dregs  of  wo,  to  give  us  peace  and  rest 


THE    PRAYER   OF   JESUS. 

WILLIAM    B.    T  A  P  P  A  N. 
St.  John  xvii. 

Father  !  thy  Son  beholds  the  promised  hour, 

That  beams  thy  love  and  glorifies  thy  power ; 

As  thou  hast  given  to  him  the  high  behest, 

To  call  the  wanderer,  give  the  weary  rest, 

Eternal  life,  and  peace,  to  man  bestow, 

To  those  vouchsafed,  who  Thee,  the  Father  know. 

He  hath  fulfilled  it,  magnified  thy  name, 

And  earth,  as  heaven,  attests  thy  great  acclaim. 

Now,  0  my  Father !  glorify  Thou  me, 

With  the  same  love  my  spirit  knew  with  Thee 

Ere  oceans  flowed,  or  worlds  in  space  were  hung. 

Or  stars  of  morning  in  their  orbits  sung. 

Breathe  on  my  soul,  thy  holy,  balmy  love, 

And  heal  the  stricken,  from  thy  stores  above. 

On  these  thy  children,  deign  a  pitying  eye, 

Wipe  Thou  the  tear,  soothe  Thou  the  secret  sigh : 

I  pray  for  these,  yet  not  for  these  alone. 

But  those  who  through  them,  shall  thy  Gospel  own. 

8 
1 


86  THEPRAYEROFJESUS. 

Now  in  the  world  shall  I  be  found  no  more ; 
My  mission  ended,  all  my  sufferings  o'er, 

0  righteous  Father !  I  return  to  Thee, 

The  man  of  sorrows,  from  each  sorrow  free ; 
Glad  rays,  ethereal,  wake  the  peerless  morn, 

1  see  in  vision,  nations  hail  thy  dawn. 
Swift  as  thy  car,  I  view  its  glories  run. 

And  kingdoms  with  Thee,  own  thy  joyful  Son. 


SLEEPING   FOR   SORROW. 

J.    K.    MITCHELL, 

And  when  he  rose  up  from  prayer,  and  was  come  to  his  disciples,  he  found  them  sleeping 
for  sorrow. — St.  Luke  xxii.  45. 

I. 

Upon  the  cold,  cold  earth  they  lie, 

While  night-winds  wildly  o'er  them  sweep. 

Their  canopy  the  clouded  sky, 

And  they  are  sad,  and  yet  they  sleep. 

11. 

Their  master.  Saviour,  guide,  their  all. 
Their  polar  star  on  life's  dark  deep, 
Is  soon  by  traitor  hands  to  fall ; 
They  fear  it,  yet  in  grief  they  sleep. 

III. 

Yes  !  the  big  drops  of  agony, 
The  cold  dank  limbs  of  Jesus  steep, 
And  they  so  near  him  close  the  eye 
Of  sorrow,  and  for  grief  they  sleep. 


88  SLEEPING   FOR    SORROW. 

IV. 

How  soundly  sleep !  though  nature  sighs, 
And  heaven  is  sad,  and  seraphs  weep. 
And,  to  his  God  in  sorrow,  cries 
Their  tortured  friend — and  yet  they  sleep. 

V. 

Oh,  what  strange  anguish  must  have  wrun^ 
Their  hearts,  on  Olive's  rocky  steep. 
When  nature  failed,  and  all  unstrung, 
They  sank  into  reluctant  sleep ! 

VI. 

But  He,  who  led  them  from  the  shore 
Of  their  own  native  lake,  to  sweep 
Their  nets  for  men,  though  lone  and  poor. 
Assuaged  their  sorrow  by  a  sleep ; 

VII. 

And  when,  by  slumber,  nerved  to  bear 
The  vigils  of  the  night,  whose  deep 
Dark  tragedy,  'twas  theirs  to  share. 
He  gently  broke  their  mournful  sleep ; 

VIII. 

Called  them  from  worldly  griefs  away, 
To  view  his  empire  on  the  steep 
Acclivity  of  heaven,  which  lay 
Far,  far  beyond  the  realms  of  sleep. 


SLEEPING   FOR   SORROW.  §9 


IX. 


Oh  thus,  when  I,  by  sorrows  wrung, 
Am  tempest-tossed  on  Hfe's  dark  deep, 
The  canvass  torn,  the  helm  unhung, 
And  earthly  pilots  all  asleep : 

X. 

May  He  who  feU,  himself,  the  throes 
Of  mortal  anguish,  o'er  me  keep 
His  sleepless  watch,  and  soothe  my  woes, 
And  call  me  from  my  sinful  sleep ; 

XL 

Direct  my  vision  to  the  skies. 
Where  saints  for  ever  cease  to  weep. 
Where  seraphs  lift  unclouded  eyes, 
And  sorrow  never  sinks  to  sleep. 


8* 


GETHSEMANE. 


ANONYMOUS. 


He  went  away  again  the  second  time,  and  prayed,  saying,  "  Oh  my  Father,  if  this  cup  may  not 
pass  away  from  me,  except  I  drink  it,  thy  will  be  done." — St.  Matthew  xxvi.  42. 

A  WREATH  of  glory  circles  still  his  head — 

And  yet  he  kneels — and  yet  he  seems  to  be 

Convulsed  with  more  than  human  agony : 

On  his  pale  brow  the  drops  are  large  and  red 

As  victim's  blood  at  votive  altar  shed — 

His  hands  are  clasped,  his  eyes  are  raised  in  prayer — 

Alas !  and  is  there  strife  He  cannot  bear, 

Who  calmed  the  tempest,  and  who  raised  the  dead  ? 

There  is !  there  is !  for  now  the  powers  of  hell, 

Are  struggling  for  the  mastery — 'tis  the  hour 

When  Death  exerts  his  last  permitted  power. 

When  the  dread  weight  of  sin,  since  Adam  fell. 

Is  visited  on  Him,  who  deigned  to  dwell — 

A  man  with  men — that  he  might  bear  the  stroke 

Of  wrath  Divine,  and  burst  the  captive's  yoke. 

But  oh !  of  that  dread  strife,  what  words  can  tell  ? 


GETHSEMANE.  91 

Those — only  those — which  broke  with  many  a  groan 
From  his  full  heart — "  O  Father,  take  away 
The  cup  of  vengeance  I  must  drink  to-day — 
Yet,  Father,  not  my  will,  but  thine  be  done !" 
It  could  not  pass  away — for  He  alone 
Was  mighty  to  endure,  and  strong  to  save ; 
Nor  would  Jehovah  leave  him  in  the  grave, 
Nor  could  corruption  taint  his  Holy  One. 


CHRIST'S    LOOK    TO    PETER. 

ELIZABETH    B.    BARRETT. 

And  the  Lord  turned  and  looked  upon  Peter;  and  Peter  remembered  the  word  of  the  Lord, 
how  he  had  said  unto  him,  "Before  the  cock  crow,  thou  shall  deny  me  thrice."  And  Peter 
went  out  and  wept  bitterly. — St.  Luke  x.xii.  60-02. 


The  Saviour  looked  on  Peter.     Ay,  no  word — 

No  gesture  of  reproach !  the  heavens  serene, 

Though  heavy  with  armed  justice,  did  not  lean 

Their  thunders  that  way  !     The  forsaken  Lord 

Looked  only  on  the  traitor.     None  record 

What  that  look  was;  none  guess;  for  those  who  have  seen 

Wronged  lovers  loving  through  a  death  pang  keen, 

Or  pale-cheeked  martyrs  smiling  to  a  sword, 

Have  missed  Jehovah  at  the  judgment  call ! 

And  Peter,  from  the  height  of  blasphemy — 

"  I  never  knew  this  man" — did  quail  and  fall 

As  knowing  straight  that  God — and  turned  free. 

And  went  out  speechless  from  the  face  of  all, 

And  filled  the  silence,  weeping  bitterly. 


CHRIST'S   LOOK   TO    PETER.  93 

II. 

I  think  that  look  of  Christ  might  seem  to  say, 
Thou,  Peter !  art  thou,  then,  a  common  stone. 
Which  I  at  last  must  break  my  heart  upon, 
For  all  God's  charge  to  his  high  angels  may 
Guard  my  foot  better  1     Did  I  yesterday. 
Wash  thy  feet,  my  beloved,  that  they  should  run 
Quick  to  deny  me  'neath  the  morning  sun  ? 
And  do  thy  kisses  like  the  rest  betray  1 
The  cock  crows  coldly.     Go,  and  manifest 
A  late  contrition,  but  no  bootless  fear ! 
For  when  thy  deathly  need  is  bitterest. 
Thou  shalt  not  be  denied,  I  am  here. 
My  voice  to  God  and  angels,  shall  attest — 
Because  I  know  this  man  let  him  he  clear. 


THE    PASSION    OF    CHRIST. 

FRANCIS    DAVISO  N.* 

And  some  began  to  spit  on  hiin,  and  to  cover  his  face,  and  to  buffet  him,  and  the  servants 
(lid  strike  him  with  the  pahns  of  their  hands ;  and  to  say  unto  him,  "  Prophesy."  *  *  *  And 
they  cried  out  the  more  exceedingly,  "Crucify  him!"  When  he  had  scourged  him,  and  the 
soldiers  led  him  away  into  the  hall  called  Pretoriuni,  they  platted  a  crown  of  thorns  and  put 
it  about  his  head,  and  tliey  clothed  him  with  purple,  and  began  to  salute  him,  and  bowing 
their  knees,  worshipped  him,  "  Hail,  King  of  the  Jews !"  And  did  spit  on  him,  and  smite  hira 
uu  the  head  with  a  reed.— St.  Mark  xiv.  65 ;  xv.  14 — 19. 

Hatred  eternal,  furious  revenging, 
Merciless  raging,  bloody  persecuting, 
Scandalous  speeches,  odious  revilings. 
Causeless  abhorring ; 

Impious  scoffings  by  the  very  abjects. 
Dangerous  threatenings  by  the  priests  anointed, 
Death  full  of  torment  in  a  shameful  order, 
Christ  did  abide  here. 

He,  that  in  glory  was  above  the  angels, 
Changed  his  glory  for  an  earthly  body, 
Yielded  his  glory  to  a  sinful  outcast, 
Glory  refusing. 

*  His  poems  were  first  published  in  1C02. 


THEPASSIONOFCHRIST.  95 

Me,  that  in  bondage  many  sins  retained 
He  for  his  goodness — for  his  goodness  only — 
Brought  from  hell  torments  to  the  joys  of  heaven, 
Not  to  be  numbered ; 

Dead  in  offences,  by  his  aid  revived, 
Quickened  in  spirit  by  the  grace  he  yieldeth ; 
Sound  then  his  praises,  to  the  world's  amazement, 
Thankfully  singing. 


IT   IS   FINISHED. 


BERNARD    BARTON. 


When  Jesus  therefore  had  received  the  vinegar,  he  said,  "  It  is  finished:"  and  he  bowed  his 
head  and  gave  up  the  ghost. — St.  John  xix.  30. 

I. 

"  It  is  finished  !"     All  is  done 

As  the  Eternal  Father  willed  ; 
Now  his  well-beloved  Son 

Hath  his  generous  word  fulfilled ; 
Even  he  who  runs  may  read 

Here  accomplished  what  was  said, 
That  the  woman's  promised  seed 

Yet  should  bruise  the  serpent's  head ! 

II. 

"  It  is  finished  !"     Needs  no  more 

Blood  of  heifer,  goat,  or  ram : 
Typical,  in  days  of  yore 

Of  the  one  incarnate  Lamb  ! 


IT   IS   FINISHED.  97 

Lamb  of  God !  for  sinners  slain, 

Thou  the  curse  of  sin  hast  braved ; 
Braved  and  borne  it — not  in  vain ; 

Thou  hast  died — and  man  is  saved ! 

III. 

"  It  is  finished  !"     Wrath  of  man 

Here  hath  wrought  and  done  its  vvrorst ; 
Still  subservient  to  His  plan, 

Greatest,  Wisest,  Last,  and  First ! 
God  shall  magnify  His  praise 

By  that  very  act  of  shame ; 
And  through  hatred's  hellish  ways. 

He  shall  glorify  His  name ! 

IV. 

"  It  is  finished  !"     From  the  tree 

Where  the  Lord  of  Life  hath  died, 
His  attendant  mourners,  see, 

Gently  lower  The  Crucified  ! 
With  a  sister's  tender  care, 

With  a  more  than  brother's  love. 
Manhood,  womanhood  are  there, 

Truth's  devotedness  to  prove. 

V. 

"  It  is  finished  !"     By  the  veil 

Of  the  temple,  rent  in  twain ; 
By  the  yet  more  fearful  tale 

Of  the  dead,  uprisen  again ; 
9 


98  ITISFINISHED. 

By  that  dense  and  darkened  sky, 
By  each  rent  and  rifted  rock, 

By  that  last  expiring  cry, 

Heard  amid  the  earthquake's  shock ! 

VI. 

"  It  is  finished  !"     Bear  away 

To  the  garden-tomb  its  dead : 
Boast  not,  Death  !  thy  transient  prey  ; 

Watchers  !  vain  your  nightly  tread ; 
"  Shining  ones"  are  there  who  wait 

Till  their  Lord  shall  burst  his  prison. 
To  ascend  in  glorious  state : — 

"  It  is  finished  !"     Christ  hath  risen. 


THE    RESURRECTION. 

MITCHELL. 

And  behold  there  was  a  great  earthquake ;  for  the  angel  of  the  Lord  descended  from  heaven 
and  came  and  rolled  away  the  stone  from  the  door  and  sat  upon  it.  His  countenance  was 
like  lightning,  and  his  raiment  white  as  snow  :  and  for  fear  of  him  the  keepers  did  shake,  and 
became  as  dead  men. — St.  Luke  xxviii.  2-4. 

Cold  is  the  midnight  air. 

Judea's  vine-clad  heights  in  silence  lie, 

And  dark  yon  rugged  cliffs  their  shadows  fling 

Across  the  olive  glens,  in  softness  veiled. 

Beneath  the  silver  beams  of  the  pale  moon. 

Jerusalem  too,  in  solemn  silence  lies. 

Though  thronged  throughout  her  halls  with  num'rous  guests. 

Now  met  as  in  the  holier  days  gone  by 

To  keep  the  Pascal  Festival. 

But  hark  !  there  is  a  sound  !     What  footstep  dares 
Intrude  on  spot  so  sacred  ?     Who  disturbs 
The  quiet  of  the  grave  1  a  grave  that  could 
Alone  afford  repose  to  Him  whose  life 
Had  been  one  lasting  tempest  of  rebuke. 
And  scorn,  and  bitterness,  and  blackest  hate, 
A  mystery  of  abandonment  and  wo ! 


100  THE   RESURRECTION. 

Who  dares  approach  1  unless  some  priceless  friend, 
Whose  agony  and  love  scorns  all  restraint, 
And  at  the  noon  of  night  seeks  the  lone  tomb, 
To  raise  the  linen  shroud,  and  gaze,  and  weep 
On  the  pale  mangled  corpse,  now  cold  and  mute 
As  the  cold  rock  on  which  his  head  doth  rest. 
Is  it  the  noiseless  step — the  smothered  sigh 
Of  holy  friendship,  seeking  e'en  in  death 
To  hold  communion  with  the  loved  and  lost  ? 
No — 'Tis  the  martial  clank  of  steel-clad  men. 
The  measured  tread  of  Roman  sentinels, 
Who  sullen  pace  the  private  garden-paths, 
And  watch  the  tomb  of  Jesus.     Wherefore  thus 
Do  hoary  warriors  stand  in  consultation  ? 
And  why  are  signs  of  dread  so  visible 
On  those  stern  countenances,  long  inured 
To  buftet  with  life's  storm,  and  smile  in  scorn 
At  what  the  gods  might  doom  in  duty's  path  1 
Does  death  not  hold  secure  enough  his  prey 
That  these  become  his  allies  ? — 

Make  all  secure ! 
Let  rocks  be  sealed,  and  men  of  war  be  placed 
At  every  avenue,  with  lance  and  sword. 
To  guard  the  still  domain.     Let  the  keen  eye 
Of  the  young  soldier  fix  its  fiery  glance 
On  the  mysterious  shrine  ;  while  near  him  stands 
The  laurelled  veteran,  with  scrutiny 
Intense  as  the  red  lightning.     And  let  Hell 
Spread  her  embattled  hosts — the  viewless  ranks 
Of  principalities,  and  powers,  and  thrones, 


THE    RESURRECTION.  101 

Be  ready  for  the  charge,  and  all  combine 
To  keep  imprisoned  in  that  dark  abode 
The  murdered  corpse  of  the  poor  Nazarene  ! 

Oh  earth  and  heaven !     What  dread  convulsion  shakes 

The  adamantine  pillars,  that  have  reared 

Their  dark  volcanic  heaps  against  the  sky, 

So  many  ages !     See,  the  rocks  are  rent, 

And  opening  wide  disclose  their  secret  depths, 

In  all  the  frightful  grandeur  of  their  form ! 

What  mighty  thunderings  wake  this  peaceful  dawn. 

With  voice  more  dreadful  than  the  deafening  roll 

Of  Csesar's  conquering  chariots ! — And  ye  men, 

Ye  men  of  blood  and  valour,  who  have  stood 

Unblanched  on  battle-fields,  and  heard  unmoved 

The  tumult  of  ten  thousand  dying  groans, 

Why  stand  ye  thus  with  terror-stricken  brow, 

And  rolling  eye,  and  lip  as  ashy  white 

As  that  of  some  weak,  helpless  woman? 

And  why  beneath  the  corslet  heaves  so  wild 

Stout  hearts  that  never  quaked  for  man  or  fiend? 

The  white-robed  messengers  of  Heaven's  high  King 

Are  hovering  o'er  your  heads ;  while  near  you  now, 

Within  that  Sepulchre,  is  going  on 

A  mystery 

No  human  hand  may  feel  the  first  warm  throb 
That  stirs  beneath  the  shroud.     No  eye  may  view 
The  mantling  bloom  of  re-awakened  life 
Spread  o'er  that  pallid  countenance — 
But  now  he  lives. 

9* 


MARY    AT    THE    SEPULCHRE. 

I.    HANKINSON. 

Jesus  saith  unto  her,  "  Mary."    She  turned  herself,  and  saith  unto  him,  "  Rabboni,"  which 
is  to  say,  Master. — St.  John  x%.  Iti. 

When  vengeance  on  her  victim's  head 
Her  seven-fold  vials  sternly  shed ; 
When  foes  the  hand  of  menace  shook, 
And  friends  betrayed,  denied,  forsook ; 
Then  woman,  meekly,  constant  still, 
Followed  to  Calvary's  fatal  hill ; — 
Yes,  followed  where  the  boldest  failed, 

Unmoved  by  threat  or  sneer; 
For  faithful  woman's  love  prevailed 

O'er  helpless  woman's  fear. 

In  sorrow  and  in  peril  tried. 
She  was  the  last  to  quit  his  side ; 
And  when  the  bloody  scene  was  closed. 
And  low  in  dust  her  friend  reposed, 
The  first  was  she  to  seek  his  tomb, 
With  balm  of  Araby's  perfume  : 


MARY   AT    THE    SEPULCHRE.  103 

She  fondly  thought  that  honoured  form 
To  rescue  from  the  loathsome  worm ; 
And  little  dreamed,  how  death  in  vain 
Had  cast  his  adamantine  chain 
O'er  one  who  came  his  might  to  quell, 
Even  in  his  gloomiest  citadel : — 
And  high  reward  her  zeal  hath  won ; — 
"  Woman  !"  she  started  at  the  tone : — 
"  Mary  !"  she  turned — beheld — adored — 
'Twas  He  to  life  and  her  restored. 

Thus  on  the  pure  and  patient  mind, 
Quiet  its  joy,  in  grief  resigned, 
Fraught  with  rich  blessings  from  above, 
Beams  the  benignant  smile  of  love ; 
E'en  as  the  lake's  unruffled  breast 
Makes  pillow  for  the  sunbeam's  rest. 
While  waves,  in  wild  disorder  driven, 
Roll  dark  beneath  the  clearest  heaven. 
Oh  woman !  though  thy  fragile  form 
Bows  like  the  willow  to  the  storm, 
111  suited  in  the  unequal  strife. 
To  brave  the  ruder  scenes  of  life ; 
Yet,  if  the  power  of  grace  divine. 
Find  in  thy  lowly  heart  a  shrine. 
Then,  in  thy  very  weakness,  strong. 
Thou  winn'st  thy  noiseless  course  along ; 
Weaving  thy  influence  with  the  ties 
Of  sweet  domestic  charities. 
And  softening  haughtier  spirits  down 
By  happy  contact  with  thine  own. 


THE    SABBATH    EVENING   WALK. 


WILLIAM    COW  PER. 


Did  not  our  hearts  burn  within  us,  while  he  talked  with  us  by  the  way,  and  while  he 
opened  to  us  the  Scriptures  ? — St.  Luke  xxiv.  32. 

It  happened,  on  a  solemn  eventide, 

Soon  after  He  who  was  our  surety,  died, 

Two  bosom  friends,  each  pensively  inclined, 

The  scene  of  all  their  sorrows  left  behind, 

Sought  their  own  village,  busied  as  they  went, 

In  musings  worthy  of  the  great  event : 

They  spake  of  him  they  loved,  of  him  whose  life, 

Though  blameless,  had  incurred  perpetual  strife ; 

Whose  deeds  had  left,  despite  of  hostile  arts, 

A  deep  memorial  graven  on  their  hearts. 

The  recollection,  like  a  vein  of  ore, 

The  further  traced,  enriched  them  still  the  more ; 

They  thought  him,  and  they  justly  thought  him,  one 

Sent  to  do  more  than  he  appeared  t'  have  done : 

T'  exalt  a  people,  and  to  place  them  high 

Above  all  else,  and  wondered  he  should  die. 


THE   SABBATH   EVENING   WALK.  105 

Ere  yet  they  brought  their  journey  to  an  end, 
A  stranger  joined  them,  courteous  as  a  friend. 
And  asked  them,  with  a  kind,  engaging  air, 
What  their  affliction  was,  and  begged  a  share. 
Informed,  he  gathered  up  the  broken  thread, 
And,  truth  and  wisdom  gracing  all  he  said. 
Explained,  illustrated,  and  searched  so  well 
The  tender  theme  on  which  they  chose  to  dwell. 
That,  reaching  home,  "The  night,"  they  said,  "is  near, 
We  need  not  now  be  parted,  sojourn  here." 
The  new  acquaintance  soon  became  a  guest, 
And  made  so  welcome  at  their  simple  feast. 
He  blessed  the  bread,  but  vanished  at  the  word. 
And  left  them  both  exclaiming,  "  'Twas  the  Lord ! 
Did  not  our  hearts  feel  all  he  deigned  to  say — 
Did  they  not  biu'n  within  us  by  the  way  1" 


CHRIST  APPEARING  TO  HIS  DISCIPLES. 


JOHN    KEBLE. 


Then  the  same  day  at  evening,  being  the  first  day  of  the  week,  when  the  doors  were  shut 
where  the  disciples  were  assembled,  for  fear  of  the  Jews,  came  Jesus  and  stood  in  the  midst, 
and  said,  "  Peace  be  unto  you  !" — St.  John  x.\.  19. 

Joy  to  all  those  who  love  to  talk 

In  secret,  how  He  died, 
Though  with  sealed  eyes  awhile  they  walk, 

Nor  see  Him  at  their  side ; 
Most  like  the  faithful  pair  are  they, 
Who  once  to  Emmaus  took  their  way. 
Half  darkling,  till  their  Master  shed 
His  gloiy  on  their  souls,  made  known  in  breaking  bread. 

Thus  ever  brighter  and  more  bright. 

On  those  he  came  to  save. 
The  Lord  of  new-created  light 

Dawn'd  gradual  from  the  grave : 
Till  past  th'  inquiring  daylight  hour, 
And  with  closed  door  in  silent  bower 
The  Church  in  anxious  musing  sate, 
As  one  who  for  redemption  still  had  long  to  wait. 


CHRIST   APPEARING  TO   HIS   DISCIPLES.       107 

Then  gliding  through  th'  unopening  door, 

Smooth  without  step  or  sound, 
"  Peace  to  your  souls,"  He  said — no  more — 

They  own  him,  kneeling  round. 
Eye,  ear,  and  hand,  and  loving  heart, 
Body  and  soul  on  every  part. 
Successive  made  His  witnesses  that  hour, 
Cease  not  in  all  the  world  to  show  his  saving  power. 

Is  there  on  earth  a  spirit  frail, 

Who  fears  to  take  their  word. 
Scarce  daring  through  the  twilight  pale, 

To  think  he  sees  the  Lord  1 
With  eyes  too  tremblingly  awake 
To  bear  with  dimness  for  His  sake  ? 
Read,  and  confess  the  hand  divine 
That  drew  thy  likeness  here  in  every  line. 

For  all  thy  rankling  doubts  so  sore, 

Love  thou  thy  Saviour  still. 
Him  for  thy  Lord  and  God  adore, 

And  ever  do  His  will. 
Though  vexing  thoughts  may  seem  to  last. 
Let  not  thy  soul  be  quite  o'ercast ; — 
Soon  will  He  show  thee  all  His  wounds,  and  say, 
"  Long  have  I  known  thy  name — know  thou  my  face 

alway." 


UNBELIEVING   THOMAS. 


THOMAS    DALE. 


Then  saith  he  to  Thomas,  "Reach  hither  thy  finger,  and  behold  my  hands;  and  reach 
hither  thy  hand,  and  tlirust  it  into  my  side ;  and  he  not  faithless,  but  believing."  And  Thomas 
answered  and  said  unto  him,  "  My  Lord  and  my  God."— St.  John  xx.  27,  28. 


I. 

There  was  a  seal  upon  the  stone 

A  guard  around  the  tomb : 
The  spurned  and  trembling  band  alone 

Bewailed  their  Master's  doom. 
They  deemed  the  barriers  of  the  grave 
Had  closed  o'er  him  who  came  to  save ; 

And  thoughts  of  grief  and  gloom 
Were  darkening,  while  depressed,  dismayed, 
Silent  they  wept,  or  weeping  prayed. 

II. 

He  died ; — for  justice  claimed  her  due, 
Ere  guilt  could  be  forgiven : 


UNBELIEVING   THOMAS.  109 

But  soon  the  gates  asunder  flew, 

The  iron  bands  were  riven ; 
Broken  the  seal ;  the  guards  dispersed, 
Upon  their  sight  in  glory  burst 

The  risen  Lord  of  Heaven ! 
Yet  one,  the  heaviest  in  despair, 
In  grief  the  wildest,  was  not  there. 

III. 

Returning,  on  each  altered  brow 

With  mute  surprise  he  gazed ; 
For  each  was  lit  with  transport  now. 

Each  eye  to  heaven  upraised. 
Burst  forth  from  each  th'  ecstatic  word — 
"  Hail,  brother,  we  have  seen  the  Lord  !" 

Bewildered  and  amazed 
He  stood ;  then  bitter  words  and  brief 
Betrayed  the  heart  of  unbelief. 

IV. 

Days  passed,  and  still  the  frequent  groan 

Convulsed  his  labouring  breast ; 
When  round  him  light  celestial  shone, 

And  Jesus  stood  confessed. 
"  Reach,  doubter !  reach  thy  hand,"  he  said ; 
".Explore  the  wound  the  spear  hath  made, 

The  front  by  nails  impressed ; 
No  longer  for  the  living  grieve, 
And  be  not  faithless,  but  believe." 
10 


110  UNBELIEVING   THOMAS. 


V. 


Oh !  if  the  iris  of  the  skies 

Transcends  the  painter's  art, 
How  could  he  trace  to  human  eyes 

The  rainbow  of  the  heart ; 
When  love,  joy,  fear,  repentance,  shame, 
Hope,  faith,  in  swift  succession  came, 

Each  claiming  there  a  part ; — 
Each  mingling  in  the  tears  that  flowed, 
The  words  that  breathed—"  My  Lord  !  My  God  !" 


DIVINE    LOVE. 

J  0  H  N    B  0  W  R  I  N  G. 
FROM   THE   PORTUGDESE  OF  VIOI,ANTE  DO   CEO. 

God  SO  loved  the  world  that  he  gave  his  only  begottpn  Son,  that  whosoever  believelh  in 
him  should  not  perish,  but  have  everlasting  life. — St.  John  iii.  16. 

I. 

In  such  a  marvellous  night,  so  fair, 
And  full  of  wonders  strange  and  new, 

Ye  shepherds  of  the  vale,  declare. 

Who  saw  the  greatest  wonder  1    Who  ? 

11. 

FIRST. 

I  saw  the  trembling  fire  look  wan. 

SECOND. 

I  saw  the  sun  shed  tears  of  blood. 

THIRD. 

I  saw  a  God  become  a  man. 

FOURTH. 

I  saw  a  man  become  a  God. 


112  DIVINE    LOVE. 

III. 

Oh  !  wondrous  marvels !     At  the  thought, 
The  bosom's  awe  and  reverence  move. 

But  who  such  prodigies  hath  wrought  ? 

Who  gave  such  wonders  birth  1     'Twas  love  ! 

IV. 

What  called  from  heaven  that  flame  divine 
Which  streams  in  glory  from  above ; 

And  bid  it  o'er  earth's  bosom  shine, 

And  bless  us  with  its  brightness  ?     Love  ! 

V. 

Who  bade  the  glorious  sun  arrest 

His  course,  and  o'er  heaven's  concave  move 

In  tears — the  saddest,  loneliest 

Of  the  celestial  orbs  ?     'Twas  love  ! 

VI. 

Who  raised  the  human  race  so  high, 

E'en  to  the  starry  seats  above, 
That,  for  our  mortal  progeny, 

A  man  became  a  God  1     'Twas  love ! 

VII. 

Who  humbled  from  the  seats  of  light 
Their  Lord,  all  human  woes  to  prove ; 

Led  the  great  source  of  day  to  night, 
And  made  of  God  a  man  ?     'Twas  love  ! 


DIVINE   LOVE.  113 


VIII. 


Yes !  love  has  wrought,  and  love  alone, 
The  victories  all, — beneath,  above ; 

And  heaven  and  earth  shall  shout,  as  one, 
The  all-triumphing  song  of  love. 

IX. 

The  song  through  all  heaven's  arches  ran, 
And  told  the  wondrous  tales  aloud : 

The  trembling  fire  that  looked  so  wan, — 
The  weeping  sun  behind  a  cloud, — 

A  God — a  God — became  a  man  ! 

A  mortal  man  became  a  God ! 


10* 


CHRIST    OUR    REDEEMER. 

GEORGE    GASCOIGNE.* 

Neither  is  there  salvation  in  any  other:  for  there  is  none  other  name  under  lieaven  given 
anions  men,  vvliereby  we  must  be  saved. — Acts  iv.  12. 

Oh  Israel,  oh  household  of  the  Lord, — 

Oh  Abraham's  sons, — oli  brood  of  blessed  seed, — 

Oh  chosen  sheep,  that  fear  the  Lord  indeed, — 

Oh  hungry  hearts,  feed  still  upon  his  word, 

And  put  your  trust  in  him  with  one  accord  ! 

For  he  hath  mercy  evermore  at  hand ; 

His  fountains  flow,  his  springs  do  never  stand ; 

And  plenteously  he  loveth  to  redeem 

Such  sinners  all 

As  on  him  call, 
And  faithfully  his  mercies  most  esteem. 

He  will  redeem  our  deadly,  drooping  state ; 
He  will  bring  home  the  sheep  that  go  astray ; 
He  will  help  them  that  hope  in  him  alway ; 
He  will  appease  our  discord  and  debate ; 

*  Died  1577. 


CHRIST    OUR   REDEEMER.  II5 

He  will  soon  save,  though  we  repent  us  late ; — 
He  will  be  ours  if  we  continue  his ; 
He  will  bring  bale  to  joy  and  perfect  bliss ; 
He  will  redeem  the  flock  of  his  elect 

From  all  that  is, 

Or  was,  amiss, 
Since  Abraham's  heirs  did  first  his  laws  reject. 


THE   LORD    MY    SHEPHERD. 


FRANCIS    DAVISON. 


I  am  the  good  shepherd;  the  good  shepherd  giveth  his  life  for  the  sheep. — St.  John  x.  11. 

I. 

God,  who  doth  all  nature  hold 

In  his  fold, 
Is  my  shepherd  kind  and  heedful ; 
Is  my  shepherd,  and  doth  keep 

Me,  his  sheep, 
Still  supplied  with  all  things  needful. 

II. 

He  feeds  me  in  fields,  which  been 

Fresh  and  green, 
Mottled  with  spring's  flowery  painting; 
Through  which  creep,  with  murmuring  crooks, 

Crystal  brooks. 
To  refresh  my  spirit  fainting. 


THE   LORD   MY    SHEPHERD.  in 

III. 

When  my  soul,  from  heaven's  way, 

Went  astray, 
With  earth's  vanities  seduced, 
For  his  name's  sake  kindly  He 

Wandering  me 
To  his  holy  fold  reduced. 

IV. 

Though  I  stray  through  death's  dark  vale, 

Where  his  pale 
Shades  on  every  side  enfold  me, 
Dreadless,  having  Thee  for  guide, 

Should  I  bide, 
For  thy  rod  and  staft'  uphold  me. 

V. 

Thou  my  board  with  messes  large 

Dost  surcharge ; 
My  bowls  full  of  wine  thou  pourest; 
And,  before  mine  enemies' 

Envious  eyes, 
Balm  upon  my  head  thou  showerest. 

VI. 

Neither  dures  thy  bounteous  grace 

For  a  space. 
But  it  knows  nor  bound  nor  measure : 
So  my  days  to  my  life's  end, 

Shall  I  spend 
In  thy  courts  with  heavenly  pleasure. 


HYMN. 

WRITTEN  AT  THE  HOLY  SEPULCHRE. 

GEORGE    SANDYS.* 
I  am  the  Resurrection  and  the  Life. — St.  John  xi.  2.5. 

Saviour  of  Mankind,  Man,  Emanuel ! 
Who  sinless  died  for  sin ;  who  vanquished  hell  ; 
The  first  fruits  of  the  grave ;  whose  life  did  give 
Light  to  our  darkness ;  in  whose  death  we  live : — 
Oh !  strengthen  thou  my  faith,  convert  my  will, 
That  mine  may  thine  obey ;  protect  me  still, 
So  that  the  latter  death  may  not  devour 
My  soul,  sealed  with  thy  seal.     So  in  the  hour. 
When  thou  (whose  body  sanctified  this  tomb, 
Unjustly  judged,)  a  glorious  judge  shall  come, 
To  judge  the  world  with  justice ;  by  that  sign 
I  may  be  known,  and  entertained  for  thine. 

*  Died  1643. 


w 


LOVEST    THOU    ME? 

JULIAN    CRAMER. 

He  saith  unto  him  the  third  time,  "  Simon,  son  of  Jonas,  lovest  thou  me  ?"'  Peter  w  as 
grieved  because  He  said  unto  him  the  third  time,  "  Lovest  thou  me  ?"  And  he  said  unto  Him, 
"  Lord,  thou  knowest  all  things  ;  thou  knowest  that  I  love  thee."  Jesus  saith  unto  liim,  "Peed 
my  sheep." — St.  John  .\.\i.  17. 

A  GROUP  had  gathered  on  the  shore  that  bounds 

The  restless  waters  of  Tiberias. 

The  weary  fishermen,  who,  all  night  long, 

Had  cast  their  nets  in  vain,  now  saw  amazed 

The  wondrous  product  of  their  later  toil, 

And,  half  in  terror,  cried — "  It  is  the  Lord !" 

And  He — mysterious  Man  ! — whom  late  they  saw 

Expire  in  agony  upon  the  Cross, 

Stood  calmly  in  their  midst  and  hushed  their  fear. 

Impetuous  Peter,  bolder  than  the  rest, 

Had  met  his  Master  first,  and  sought  to  prove 

His  zealous  confidence  and  greater  love. 

Him  loving,  yet  reproving  for  his  warmth. 

The  Lord  addressed : — "  Thou  son  of  Jonas,  hear  1 

And  answer  truly  if  thou  lovest  me  ?" 


120  LOVESTTHOUME? 

Thrice  fell  this  question  on  his  anxious  ear, 
While  wonder  first,  and  then  dismay  and  grief, 
Oppressed  him  as  his  answer  thus  he  made : — 
"  Yea,  Lord,  Thou  knovvest  that  I  love  thee  well." 
"  Then  feed  my  lambs,"  the  Holy  Shepherd  said  : 
"  If  me  thou  lovest  more  than  all  beside. 
Then  feed  my  Iambs !     If  thou  wilt  prove  thy  zeal, 
And  thus  insure  thy  master's  welcome  praise, 
Go,  feed  my  lambs !     I  ask  no  arduous  toil — 
No  deed  of  high  emprise  thy  powers  shall  task — 
I  only  bid  thee  feed  my  lambs !"     He  said. 
And  soon  for  heav'n  departed,  there  to  watch 
His  under-shepherds  while  they  guard  his  flock. 

Oh  ye,  whose  holy  privilege  it  is 

To  serve  Him  thus,  see  that  ye  feed  His  lambs ! 

So  shall  ye  gain  the  evidence  ye  seek, 

That  your  commission  bears  His  sacred  seal : 

So  shall  ye  prove  your  love — and  so  acquire 

The  rich  reward  on  which  your  hopes  are  fixed. 


THE    FOLLOWERS    OF    CHRIST 


REGINALD    HEBER. 


Follow  thou  me. — St.  John  x.\i.  22. 


L 


The  Son  of  God  goes  forth  to  war, 
A  kingly  crown  to  gain: 

His  blood-red  banner  streams  afar  ! 
Who  follows  in  His  train  ? 


IL 


Who  best  can  drink  his  cup  of  wo, 

Triumphant  over  pain, 
Who  patient  bears  his  cross  below, 

He  follows  in  His  train ! 
1] 


122  THE   FOLLOWERS    OF    CHRIST. 

III. 

The  martyr  first,  whose  eagle  eye 
Could  pierce  beyond  the  grave ; 

Who  saw  his  Master  in  the  sky, 
And  called  on  Him  to  save. 


IV. 


Like  Him,  with  pardon  on  his  tongue. 

In  midst  of  mortal  pain, 
He  prayed  for  them  that  did  the  wron^ 

Who  follows  in  His  train  1 


V. 


A  glorious  band,  the  chosen  few 

On  whom  the  spirit  came ; 
Twelve  valiant  saints,  their  hope  they  knew. 

And  mocked  the  cross  and  flame. 


VI. 

They  met  the  tyrant's  brandished  steel, 

The  lion's  gory  mane ; 
They  bowed  their  necks  the  death  to  feel ! 

Who  follows  in  their  train  1 


THE   FOLLOWERS    OF    CHRIST.  123 

VII. 

A  noble  army, — men  and  boys, 

The  matron  and  the  maid, 
Around  the  Saviom-'s  throne  rejoice, 

In  robes  of  light  arrayed. 

VIII. 

They  climbed  the  steep  ascent  of  heaven, 

Through  peril,  toil,  and  pain ! 
Oh  God !  to  us  may  grace  be  given, 

To  foUovvr  in  their  train ! 


THE    LAST    COMMAND. 


ANONYMOUS. 

Ami  Jesiis  came  and  spake  unto  them,  saying,  "  All  power  is  given  unto  me  in  heaven  and 
in  earth.  Go  ye,  tlierefore,  and  teach  all  nations,  baptizing  them  in  the  name  of  the  Father, 
and  of  the  Son,  and  of  the  Holy  Ghost;  teaching  them  to  observe  all  things  whatsoever  I  have 
commanded  you ;  and  lo,  I  am  with  you  always,  even  unto  the  end  of  the  world."'— St. 
Matthew  .wviii.  18-20. 


I. 

Go  to  the  lands  afar, 

Where  the  changeless  winter  reigns  ; 
Night  hath  her  empire  there, 
The  night  of  deep  despair ; 
Go  bid  the  morning  star 

Rise  o'er  those  snowy  plains. 

II. 

Go,  love's  soft  dew  to  shower 
On  the  far-off  southern  isle ; 

Though  darkness  hath  her  hour, 

Truth  is  a  mightier  power ; 

Go,  bid  the  lily  flower. 

And  the  rose  of  Sharon  smile. 


THE    LAST    COMMAND.  125 


III. 


Go  where  its  glittering  wave 
The  spreading  Ganges  pours ; 

No  hidden  power  to  save 

Those  earth-born  waters  have  ; 

Oh,  purer  streamlets  lave 

Zion's  thrice-hallowed  shores ! 

IV. 

Go  where  o'er  golden  sands 

The  streams  of  Afric  glide ; 
Bear  to  those  distant  lands 
The  Saviour's  sweet  commands, 
Firm,  firm  his  purpose  stands, — 
"  Lo  !  I  am  by  thy  side  !" 

V. 

Wide  is  the  glorious  field ; 

Throughout  the  world  go  forth, 
The  Spirit's  sword  to  wield, 
To  bear  the  Spirit's  shield ; 
Till  every  nation  yield, 

And  blessings  crown  the  earth. 

VI. 

Oh !  speed  the  rising  rays 

Of  the  Sun  of  Righteousness ! 
So  shall  the  glad  earth  raise 
11* 


126  THE   LAST   COMMAND. 

A  noble  song  of  praise, 
Touched  by  the  light  which  plays 
From  a  nobler  world  than  this ! 

VII. 

Early  and  late  still  sow 

The  seed  which  God  hath  given ; 
Seek  not  reward  below, 
The  glorious  flower  shall  blow 
Where  cloudless  summers  glow  ; 

The  harvest  is  in  heaven  ! 


WHAT    SHALL    THIS    MAN   DO? 

JOHN    KEBLE. 

Peter,  seeing  him,  saith  to  Jesus,  "Lord,  ami  what  shall  this  man  do?"  Jesus  saith  unto 
him,  "  If  I  will  that  he  tarry  till  I  come,  what  is  that  to  thee  ?  follow  thou  me."— St.  John 
x.xi.  22. 

"  Lord,  and  what  shall  this  man  do  1" 
Ask'st  thou,  Christian,  for  thy  friend  ? 

If  his  love  for  Christ  be  true, 
Christ  hath  told  thee  of  his  end : 

This  is  he  whom  Christ  approves, 

This  is  he  whom  Jesus  loves. 

Ask  not  of  him  more  than  this, — 

Leave  it  in  his  Saviour's  breast, 
Whether  early  called  to  bliss. 

He  in  youth  shall  find  his  rest, 
Or  armed  in  his  station  wait 
Till  his  Lord  be  at  the  gate ; 

Whether  in  his  lonely  course, 

(Lonely,  not  forlorn)  he  stay. 
Or,  with  love's  supporting  force. 

Cheat  the  toil  and  cheer  the  way : 


12S  WHAT    SHALL    THIS    MAN    DO? 

Leave  it  all  in  His  high  hand, 

Who  doth  hearts  as  streams  command. 

Gales  from  heaven,  if  so  He  will, 
Sweeter  melodies  can  wake 

On  the  lonely  mountain  rill 

Than  the  meeting  waters  make : 

Who  hath  the  Father  and  the  Son, 

May  be  left,  but  not  alone. 

Sick  or  healthful,  slave  or  free, 
Wealthy,  or  despised  and  poor, — 

What  is  that  to  him  or  thee. 
So  his  love  to  Christ  endure  ? 

When  the  shore  is  won  at  last, 

Who  will  count  the  billows  past  ? 

Only,  since  our  souls  will  shrink 
At  the  touch  of  natural  grief, 

When  our  earthly  loved  ones  sink. 
Lend  us,  Lord,  thy  sure  relief; 

Patient  hearts,  their  pain  to  see, 

x'Vnd  thy  grace,  to  follow  Thee. 


THE    ASCENSION. 

WILLIAM    DRTJMMON  D.* 

While  they  beheld  he  was  taken  up  ;  and  a  cloud  received  him  out  of  their  sight.- 
Acts  i.  9. 

Bright  portals  of  the  sky, 

Embossed  with  sparkhng  stars ; 

Doors  of  eternity, 

With  diamantine  bars. 

Your  arras  rich  uphold : 

Loose  all  your  bolts  and  springs, 

Ope  wide  your  leaves  of  gold, 
That  in  your  roofs  may  come  the  King  of  kings. 

Scarfed  in  a  rosy  cloud, 

He  doth  ascend  the  air, 
Straight  doth  the  moon  Him  shroud 

With  her  resplendent  hair ; 
The  next  encrystalled  light 

Submits  to  Him  its  beams. 
And  He  doth  trace  the  height 
Of  that  fair  lamp  which  flames  of  beauty  streams. 

*  Died  1049. 


130  THE   ASCENSION. 

He  towers  those  golden  bounds 

He  did  to  sun  bequeath ; 
The  higher  wandering  rounds 

Are  found  his  feet  beneath : 
The  Milky  Way  comes  near, 

Heaven's  axle  seems  to  bend 
Above  each  turning  sphere, 
That  robed  in  glory  Heaven's  King  may  ascend. 

Oh  well-spring  of  this  All ! 

Thy  Father's  image  vive. 
Word,  that  from  nought  did  call 

What  is,  doth  reason  hve ! 
The  soul's  eternal  food, 

Earth's  joy,  delight  of  heaven  ; 
All  truth,  love,  beauty,  good, — 
To  Thee,  to  Thee,  be  praises  ever  given ! 

What  was  dismarshalled  late 

To  this,  thy  noble  frame. 
And  lost  the  prime  estate. 

Hath  re-obtained  the  same. 
Is  now  more  perfect  seen ; 

Streams  which  diverted  were 
(And  troubled,  stayed  unclean) 
From  their  first  source,  by  Thee  home-turned  are. 

By  Thee  that  blemish  old. 

Of  Eden's  leprous  prince, 
Which  on  his  race  took  hold. 

And  him  exiled  from  thence. 


THE   ASCENSION.  131 

Now  put  away  is  far ; 

With  sword  in  ireful  guise, 
No  ciierub  more  shall  bar 
Poor  man  the  entrance  into  Paradise. 

Now  each  ethereal  gate, 

To  Him  hath  opened  been ; 
And  glory's  King  in  state 

His  palace  enters  in : 
Now  come  is  this  High  Priest 

To  the  Most  Holy  Place, 
Not  without  blood  addressed. 
With  glory  heaven,  the  earth  to  crown  with  grace. 

Stars  which  all  eyes  were,  late, 

And  did  with  wonder  burn. 
His  name  to  celebrate 

In  flaming  tongues,  their  turn, 
Their  orby  crystals  move 

More  active  than  before. 
And,  entheate*  from  above. 
Their  sovereign  Prince  laud,  glorify,  adore. 

The  choirs  of  happy  souls. 

Waked  with  that  music  sweet, 
Whose  descant  care  controls. 

Their  Lord  in  triumph  meet : 
The  spotless  spirits  of  light, 

His  trophies  do  extol, 

*  Divinely  inspired. 


132  THE   ASCENSION. 

And  arched  in  squadrons  bright, 
Greet  their  great  Victor  in  his  capitol. 

Oh,  glory  of  the  heaven ! 

Oh,  sole  delight  of  earth  ! 
To  thee  all  power  be  given, 

God's  uncreated  birth : 
Of  mankind  lover  true, 

Endurer  of  his  wrong. 
Who  dost  the  world  renew, 
Still  be  thou  our  salvation  and  our  song ! 

From  top  of  Olivet  such  notes  did  rise. 
When  man's  Redeemer  did  ascend  the  skies. 


THE    CHRISTIAN    SABBATH. 


ANONYMOUS. 


And  upon  the  first  day  of  the  week,  when  the  disciples  came  together  to  break  bread,  Paul 
preached  unto  them. — Acts  x.\.  7. 

Up  steeps  reclining  in  the  autumnal  calm, 
The  woodland  nook  retired,  and  quiet  field, 

Upon  the  tranquil  noon 

The  Sunday  chime  is  borne ; 

Rising  and  sinking  on  the  silent  air. 
With  many  a  dying  fall,  most  musical 

And  fitful  bird  hard  by 

Blending  melodiously. 

The  sky  is  looking  on  the  sunny  earth. 
The  fleecy  clouds  stand  still  in  heaven, 

Making  the  blue  expanse 

More  still  and  beautiful. 

If  aught  there  be  upon  this  rude,  bad  earth. 
Which  angels,  from  their  happy  spheres  above. 
Could  lean  and  listen  to, 
It  were  those  peaceful  sounds. 
12 


134  THE    CHRISTIAN    SABBATH. 

There  is  unearthly  bahn  upon  the  air, 

And  hoHer  hghts  which  are  with  Sunday  born, 

That  man  may  lay  aside 

Himself,  and  be  at  rest. 

The  week-day  cares  from  us  like  shackles  fall, 
As  from  the  Lord  the  clothings  of  the  grave. 

And  we,  too,  seem  with  him 

To  walk  in  endless  morn. 

Not  that  these  musical  wings  would  bear  us  up 
On  buoyant  thoughts,  too  high  for  sinful  man. 
But  that  they  speak  the  best 
Which  earth  hath  left  to  give — 

Of  better  hopes,  and  prayer,  and  penitence. 
Rising  in  incense  on  the  sacred  air. 

From  many  a  woodland  spire. 

Or  hill-embosomed  fane. 


THE    GIFT    OF    TONGUES. 

CHARLES    JENNER. 

And  when  the  Dat  of  Pentecost  was  fully  come,  they  were  all  with  one  accord  in  one 
place.  And  suddenly  there  came  a  sound  from  heaven  as  of  a  rushing  mighty  wind,  and  it 
filled  all  the  house  where  they  wore  sitting.  And  there  appeared  unto  them  cloven  tongues 
as  of  fire,  and  it  sat  upon  each  of  them :  and  they  were  all  filled  with  the  Holy  Ghost,  and 
began  to  speak  with  other  tongues,  as  the  Spirit  gave  them  utterance.— Acts  ii.  1-4. 

God's  wondrous  power,  on  that  great  day  revealed, 
When  from  on  high  the  Sacred  Influence  fell, 
Knowledge  and  light  surpassing  human  lore, 
Diffusing  in  its  course,  vent'rous  I  sing. 
O,  for  one  transient  gleam  from  that  pure  fount 
Of  light  celestial,  whose  all-pow'rful  rays 
Instant  dispelled  the  mists  of  ignorance. 
Informed  the  mind,  and  urged  the  willing  tongue ! 
O,  for  one  spark  of  that  transcendent  fire 
Which  shed  its  rapid  influence  thro'  the  soul. 
Kindling  at  once  in  the  astonished  mind 
The  sacred  flame  of  heaven-directed  zeal, 
In  strains  poured  forth  of  wisdom  heaven-taught, 
Which  in  conception  to  perfection  sprang. 
Mocking  the  tedious  steps  of  human  wit ! 


136  THEGIFTOFTONGUES. 

Too  vain  that  wish. — But  thou,  O  Spirit  pure ! 
Who  deign'st  to  guide  the  wayward  heart  of  man, 
When  conscious  weakness  claims  Thy  aid  benign, 
Thou  from  whose  eyes  the  palpable  obscure 
Nought  hides,  who  ever  mark'st  my  inmost  soul, 
And  check'st  with  care  paternal  every  ill, 
Suggesting  kindly,  pure  and  holy  thoughts, 
Frame  thou  my  mind ;  dispose  my  humble  heart 
To  feel  thy  goodness  and  adore  thy  might ; 
Grant  me,  with  faith  to  read  thy  wond'rous  works. 
To  hear  with  joy,  to  tell  with  gratitude ; 
Grant  me,  at  humble  distance,  to  revere 
Those  acts  of  power  I  know  not  how  to  scan ; 
Grant  me,  with  scorn  to  view  the  sceptic's  pride. 
Who  dares  to  tread  the  dark,  meand'ring  maze, 
And  strive  with  mortal  ken  (how  short !  how  dim  !) 
To  trace  the  steps  of  dread  Omnipotence ; 
Grant  me,  with  humble  yet  exulting  mind. 
In  all  thy  wond'rous  works  to  mark  the  end, 
Nor  rashly  strive  to  comprehend  the  means ; 
To  view,  with  rev'rent  awe,  the  mighty  cause, 
And  feel  with  gratitude  the  blest  effect ; 
Grant  me,  in  this  meek,  sober  frame  of  mind. 
To  view  Thy  goodness,  and  to  sing  Thy  praise ; 
So  shall  my  lays,  though  rude,  attention  claim. 
Nor  useless  sink  in  cold  oblivion's  wave ; 
Warm  from  the  heart,  they  bear  intrinsic  worth, 
And  conscience  shall  bear  witness  to  their  truth. 

'Twas  on  that  day,  that  memorable  day, 
When  erst  the  prophet  of  the  favoured  seed 


THE    GIFT    OF   TONGUES.  137 

From  Israel  sprung,  high-honoured  Moses  held, 
With  trembling  awe,  converse  with  God  himself; 
'Twas  on  that  day,  when  round  the  sacred  mount 
The  rapid  Hghtnings  shot  their  livid  glance. 
Flashing  a  larger  and  a  larger  curve, 
Whilst  the  dread  thunder,  mutt'ring  from  afar, 
With  sullen  murmur  deep'ning  in  its  course, 
Burst  rattling  all  around  in  discord  wild, 
When,  'midst  the  horror  of  the  awful  scene, 
The  holy  prophet  learned  those  high  behests 
By  which  to  lead  his  sacred  flock,  and  show 
Types  of  a  purer  plan  in  days  to  come ; 
On  that  same  day,  the  still  more  sacred  flock 
Of  Christ,  who  only  mourned  his  recent  loss, 
Stol'n  from  the  clamours  of  the  impious  crowd 
In  thought  pursued  his  steps  to  heav'n,  and  cheered 
Each  other's  griefs  with  thoughts  of  bliss  to  come. 

Not  hopeless  did  they  grieve ;  for  o'er  the  soul 
His  last  bequest  has  shed  a  gleam  of  joy ; 
"  A  comforter  to  come"  restrained  their  tears, 
A  steadfast  faith  suppressed  the  rising  sigh, 
And  expectation  raised  their  downcast  eyes. 
Nor  vain  their  hope ;  for  now  with  sudden  burst 
A  rushinw  noise  throusrh  all  the  sacred  band 
Silence  profound  and  fixed  attention  claimed, 
A  chilling  terror  crept  through  every  heart, 
Mute  was  each  tongue,  and  pale  was  ev'ry  face : 
The  rough  roar  ceased ;  when,  borne  on  fiery  wings, 
The  dazzling  emanation  from  above 
In  brightest  vision  round  each  sacred  head 
12* 


138  THE    GIFT    OF    TONGUES. 

Diffused  its  vivid  beams ;  mysterious  light ! 
That  ruslied  impetuous  through  th'  awaking  mind, 
Whilst  new  ideas  filled  the  passive  soul, 
Fast  crowding  in  with  sweetest  violence. 
'Twas  then  amazed  they  caught  the  glorious  flame, 
Spontaneous  flowed  their  all-persuasive  words, 
Warm  from  the  heart,  and  to  the  heart  addressed, 
Deep  sunk  their  force  in  ev'ry  captived  ear. 

O  see  the  crowd,  pressing  with  eager  steps 
To  catch  the  flowing  periods  as  they  fall ; 
See  how,  with  wond'ring  rapture,  they  devour 
The  pleasing  accents  of  their  native  tongue ; 
See  how,  with  eyes  uplifted,  they  advance, 
With  outstretched  hands  and  smiles  of  social  love. 
To  greet  the  partners  of  their  native  soil. 
O  catch  the  varying  transports  in  their  looks, 
In  awful  wonder  see  each  passion  lost, 
When  ev'ry  nation  urged  an  equal  claim. 
Fond  men,  forbear ;  and  know  the  voice  of  truth. 
By  weak  restraints  of  language  unconfined, 
Flows,  independent,  from  that  radiant  shrine 
From  whence  the  dayspring  draws  her  glitt'ring  store 
To  shine  on  all  with  undistinguished  ray. 
And  scatter  dazzling  light  on  ev'ry  clime. 

Thou  speak'st,  immortal  Truth !  beneath  each  pole 
The  trembling  earth  acknowledges  thy  voice ; 
Pride  catches  quick  the  mortifying  sound. 
Far,  far  aloof  flies  ev'ry  golden  dream, 
And  all  is  blindfold  error  and  distress. 


THE    GIFT    OF   TONGUES.  139 

0 !  'twas  that  potent  voice,  whose  magic  pow'r 
Burst  through  the  organs  of  the  sacred  band, 
What  time,  O  Salem,  'midst  thy  hallowed  walls 
The  mingled  crowd  from  many  a  distant  realm 
In  fixed  attention  hung  upon  their  words, 
Which,  with  conviction  fraught,  flowed  unrestrained, 
Though,  skilled  alone  in  virtue's  sacred  lore, 
They  never  had  employed  life's  precious  hours 
In  learning's  paths ;  without  proud  science  wise. 

By  weakest  ministers  th'  Almighty  thus 
Makes  known  His  sacred  will,  and  shows  His  pow'r : 
By  him  inspired  they  speak  with  urgent  tongue 
Authoritative,  whilst  th'  illumined  breast 
Heaves  with  unwonted  strength ;  high  as  their  theme 
Their  great  conceptions  rise  in  rapt'rous  flow, 
As  quick  the  ready  organs  catch  the  thought, 
And,  in  such  strains  as  science  could  not  teach, 
Bear  it,  in  all  its  radiance,  to  the  heart  ; 
The  list'ning  throng  there  feel  its  blessed  effect. 
And  deep  conviction  glows  in  ev'ry  breast. 

See  ev'ry  crime  which  stains  the  human  mind 
At  their  strong  bidding  takes  its  rapid  flight : 
Delusion's  dreams  no  more  infect  the  soul. 
High-boasting  pride,  fierce  wrath,  impetuous  lust, 
And  avarice  sweUing  with  hydropic  thirst, 
Fade,  like  unwholesome  dews  before  the  sun : 
They  fade  to  rise  no  more ;  for  see,  a  band 
Of  radiant  virtues  seize  their  late  abode, 
And  stamp  the  mansion  with  the  seal  of  truth. 


140  THE    GIFT    OF   TONGUES. 

There  heav'nly  knowledge  shines  in  glitt'ring  pride, 

And  patience  sits,  with  meek  submissive  smile 

Disarming  stern  oppression ;  justice  there 

Erects  her  rigid  test  of  right  and  wrong ; 

And  there  with  God's  own  armour  all-begirt, 

Stands  fortitude,  erect  in  Christian  strength ; 

There  temp'rance  stands,  with  ever-watchful  eye, 

To  curb  the  passions  with  a  steady  rein ; 

And  candour  there  her  golden  rule  displays 

To  act  by  others  as  thy  heart  must  wish 

They,  in  like  circumstance,  should  act  by  thee ; 

But  chiefly  there,  in  ever-fixed  seat. 

Sits  heav'n-born  charity ;  her  eagle  eye 

Thrown  o'er  the  wide  expanse  of  Nature's  works, 

Where,  nobly  scorning  ev'ry  meaner  tie. 

She  deems  all  human  ills  her  own,  and  sighs 

If  aught  of  mis'ry  dwell  beneath  the  sun. 

With  such  bright  guests  the  Christian  mind  is  stored. 

Pledges  of  truest  knowledge,  joy,  and  peace : 

These  to  make  known  became  the  sacred  task 

By  heav'n  imposed  upon  the  chosen  band ; 

Thrice  happy  they  to  such  high  office  called, 

The  blessed  ministers  of  God's  high  will ! 

For  them  the  fulness  of  His  might  is  shown, 

O'erleaping  the  strong  bounds  of  nature's  law ; 

Grim  death  for  them  contracts  his  hasty  stride, 

And  checks  his  dart  ev'n  in  the  act  to  strike ; 

His  horrid  messengers,  disease  and  pain. 

Loose  their  remorseless  grasp  unwillingly, 

And  leave  their  prey  to  ease  and  thankfulness ; 

For  them  bright  wisdom  opens  all  her  stores, 


T  H  E    G  I  F  T    O  F    T  O  N  G  U  E  S.  141 

Her  golden  treasures  spreading  to  their  view, 

Whilst  inspiration's  all-enliv'ning  light 

Hangs  hov'ring  o'er  their  heads  in  glitt'ring  blaze ; 

Warmed  by  the  ray  they  pour  the  sacred  strain 

In  eloquence  seraphic  ;  truths  divine, 

For  ever  registered  in  heav'n's  high  page. 

Flow  from  their  lips,  and  glow  within  their  breasts ; 

Amazed  they  feel  the  sacred  ecstacy, 

With  heav'nly  rapture  thrill  in  ev'ry  nerve ; 

Whilst  in  their  flowing  words,  with  wisdom  fraught 

Celestial,  shines  the  heav'nly  Spirit  pure. 

This  is  no  fancied  power,  no  idle  dream, 

No  flatt'ring  scheme  by  heated  fancy  formed, 

The  genuine  influence  fills  each  raptured  soul. 

And  beams  in  ev'ry  eye  conspicuous. 

Far  other  flame  the  vain  enthusiast  feels 
When,  reason  by  delusive  fancy  led 
In  sad  captivity,  the  thoughts  confused 
Rush  on  his  mind  in  dark  and  doubtful  sense. 
Consider  well,  what  are  the  genuine  marks 
Of  heavenly  inspiration.     It  was  not 
In  wild  ecstatic  rants  and  dubious  phrase. 
In  doctrines  intricate  and  terms  peii^lexed. 
The  simple  messengers  of  Jesus  spake. 
0  search  and  see,  were  not  their  doctrines  pure. 
And  in  such  plain  and  modest  phrase  expressed 
As  best  befits  instruction's  wholesome  plan  1 
Mighty  to  save,  they  sought  no  other  pow'r. 
No  meed,  but  that  which  conscious  virtue  feels 
When  she  conducts  some  hapless  wand'rer  back 


142  THE    GIFT    OF    TONGUES. 

To  paths,  without  her  aid,  for  ever  lost. 

If  such  your  heav'nly  aim,  your  hves  unblamed 

Will  give,  like  theirs,  an  earnest  of  your  truth ; 

If,  daily  trained  to  ev'ry  virtuous  act. 

You  tread  the  steps  the  blessed  Jesus  trod. 

Through  the  straight  path,  the  way  of  holiness, 

Then  may  ye  lead  your  flocks  to  his  abode ; 

But,  O  beware !  think  not  the  heav'nly  guest 

Can  fix  his  residence  with  aught  impure ; 

Think  not  the  heart  which  pride  or  int'rest  guides 

Can  ever  be  the  seat  of  heav'nly  grace ; 

If  yet  the  Holy  Spirit  deigns  to  dwell 

In  earthly  domes,  'tis  not  in  those  defiled 

With  pride,  with  fraud,  with  rapine,  or  with  lust ; 

'Midst  the  rough  foliage  of  the  thorny  brake 

The  clust'ring  grape  not  blushes,  and  the  fig 

Decks  not  the  prickly  thistle's  barren  stalk ; 

Ev'n  thus  shall  all  be  measured  by  their  fruits ; 

So  spake  the  living  Oracle  of  Truth : 

O  never,  never  lose  this  sacred  guide. 

By  ev'ry  blast  of  doctrine  borne  away. 

But  gazing  ever  on  the  Gospel  light. 

That  endless  source  of  evidence  and  truth. 

Prove  ev'ry  doctrine  by  that  golden  rule. 

And  "  try  the  Spirits  if  they  be  of  God." 


THE    CALL   OF    THE    GENTILES. 

SPENCER    MADAN. 

For  the  promise  is  unto  you,  and  to  your  children,  and  to  all  that  are  afar  off,  even  as  many 
as  the  Lord  our  God  sliall  call. — Acts  ii.  32. 
To  the  Jew  first,  and  also  to  the  Gentile.— Romans  ii.  10. 

Oh,  not  to  Israel's  haughty  sons  alone 
Came  the  glad  tidings  of  a  Saviour  born ; 
Not  so  repulsed  th'  Almighty's  outstretched  arm, 
Not  so  confined  His  love  !     The  dove-like  form 
Of  mercy,  issuing  forth,  through  every  clime, 
Flies  to  and  fro,  to  earth's  extremest  verge, 
Speeds  her  light  way,  and  plies  her  eager  search, 
Unwilling  to  return  if  chance  she  find 
Whereon  to  rest  her  foot !     Long  time  intent 
O'er  thee,  Judaea,  self-devoted  land  ! 
With  many  an  anxious  pause  and  circhng  flight 
The  mystic  wanderer  hung !     Full  oft  she  sought 
Thy  tow'rs,  Jerusalem,  thy  fated  walls, 
And  wept  o'er  all  the  scene !     Full  oft  she  called 
(E'en  as  a  hen  collects  her  callow  brood) 


144  THE    CALL    OF   THE    GENTILES. 

And  yet  ye  would  not !  "  O  ungrateful  race !" 

In  deep  despair  the  lovely  exile  cried ; 

Then  shook  soft  pity  from  her  wings — and  fled. — 

Happy  the  few,  on  whose  selected  heads 

The  plenteous  dayspring  from  on  high  descended 

In  kindly  visitation  !     Happy  they 

On  whom  that  show'r  of  heav'n-born  pity  fell ; 

— Nor  fell  unfruitful !     While  impassioned  hope, 

Firm  faith,  that  wisely  builds  on  reason's  rock. 

Strong-working,  drew  them  from  the  crooked  path ; 

Taught  them  at  length  with  steady  eye  to  bear 

The  growing  light ;  to  hail  with  grateful  joy 

Each  emanation  of  those  holy  truths 

That  Jesus  poured  upon  their  tempered  souls ! 

These,  not  unaided  by  supernal  grace. 

And  fraught  with  confidence  and  holy  zeal. 

Sure  test  of  true  conversion !  these,  O  Lord, 

Were  all  Thy  scanty  followers ;  by  Thee 

First  called,  first  rescued  from  a  world  of  wo. 

To  spread  salvation  into  distant  climes ; 

And  tell  the  meanest  habitant  of  earth 

"  Glad  tidings  of  great  joy  !" — Much  envied  lot 

Of  ministry  like  this !     Thrice  happy  state 

Of  servitude,  (if  freedom's  choicest  name 

Befit  not  rather)  happier,  richer  far 

Than  all  that  tyranny  enthroned  could  boast. 

Or  the  proud  sceptre  of  imperial  Rome ! 

Conscious  I  quit  the  still-increasing  theme 

Of  praise  and  wonder !     Mute  admiring  joy 

Must  paint  a  scene  the  muse  can  never  reach ! 

'Tis  not  for  us,  unweeting  babblers  all, 


THE    CALL    OF    THE    GENTILES.  145 

To  trace  with  fit  design  the  holy  group 
Forth  issuing,  for  the  glorious  work  prepared, 
Their  cry  Salvation ! — God  himself  their  guide  ! 
For  us  suffice  it  rather,  first  to  haste 
In  silent  joy,  like  Abraham  from  his  tent, 
And  welcome  their  approach ; — then  quick  retire, 
Like  Lot  from  Sodom,  anxious  to  be  saved, 
Thankful  to  hear,  and  happy  to  obey ! — 
'Tis  not  for  us,  to  watch  with  prying  eye 
The  secret  workings  of  Almighty  Power ; 
To  tell  how  heav'n's  diffiisive  love  prevailed 
With  gradual  effort  o'er  the  conscious  soul ; 
Or  struck,  invisible,  with  sudden  ray 
Of  purest  knowledge,  and  regen'rate  joy, 
Th'  unconscious  Heathen ;  'till  at  once  aroused, 
His  ev'ry  sense  and  ev'ry  glowing  thought 
Start  from  its  lethargy,  and  spring  to  life  ! 
Suffice  it,  that  we  know  the  mighty  cause 
And  breathe  unceasing  songs  of  gratitude 
To  him,  whose  blessing  far  and  wide  displayed 
The  rich  effiasion,  till  one  vast  embrace 
Encircled  all  creation  ! — Gracious  Heaven  ! 
O  not  in  vain  be  these  thy  mercies  shown 
To  any  child  of  man !     Remember,  Lord, 
And  save  the  creature  of  Thy  plastic  hand. 
Whether  Thou  view'st  him  wand'ring  on  the  waste 
Of  Polar  Zembla,  continent  of  ice ! 
Or  breathing  rude  idolatry  and  vows 
Of  prostrate  adoration  at  the  shrine 
Of  Thibet's  hapless  Lama  !     Wretched  being, 
Less  free,  less  happy,  less  a  God  than  e'en 

13 


146  THE    CALL    OF   THE    GENTILES. 

His  vilest  votaiy  ! — Yet  not  alone 
To  the  swart  savage  of  the  barb'rous  East, 
The  beaded  Hottentot,  or  naked  slave 
-   Who  toils,  untutored,  in  the  guilty  mine. 
Reveal  thy  saving  arm !     But  turn,  O  turn 
The  blinder  Infidel,  of  every  name, 
Or  gross  Mahometan,  or  stubborn  Jew^, 
Or  desperate  Atheist,  who  mocks  thy  pow'rs 
With  purposed  insult ! — Turn  them,  Lord,  and  save 
And  win  them  to  Thyself!     O  quickly  bring 
To  Sharon's  fold  and  Achor's  happy  vale 
Thy  full  united  flock  ! — And  if  the  muse. 
Impatient  for  thy  glory,  still  may  breathe 
One  added  prayer,  O  bless  the  pious  zeal. 
And  crown  with  glad  success  the  lab'ring  sons 
Of  that  best  charity,  whose  annual  mite 
Sends  forth  Thy  gospel  to  the  distant  isles ! 
So  shall  the  nations,  rescued  myriads !  hear, 
And  own  Thy  mercy  over  all  Thy  works ! 
So  from  each  corner  of  th'  enlighten'd  earth 
Incessant  peals  of  universal  joy 
Shall  hail  Thee,  Heavenly  Father,  God  of  All ! 


THE    LAME    MAN    HEALED. 

SAMUEL    D.    PATTERSON. 

Now  Peter  and  John  went  up  together  into  the  temple  at  the  hour  of  prayer,  being  the  ninth 
hour.  And  a  certain  man,  lame  from  his  mother's  womb,  was  carried,  whom  they  laid  daily 
at  the  gate  of  the  temple  which  is  called  Beautiful,  to  ask  alms  of  them  that  entered  into  the 
temple ;  who,  seeing  Peter  and  John  about  to  go  into  the  temple,  asked  an  alms.  And  Peter, 
fastening  hia  eyes  upon  him,  with  John,  said,  "  Look  on  us."  And  he  gave  heed  unto  them, 
expecting  to  receive  something  of  them.  Then  Peter  said,  "  Silver  and  gold  have  I  none  ;  but 
such  as  I  have  I  give  thee;  In  the  name  of  Jesus  Christ  of  Nazareth,  rise  up  and  walk."  And 
he  took  him  by  the  right  hand,  and  lifted  him  up ;  and  immediately  his  feet  and  ankle  bones 
received  strength.  And  he,  leaping  up,  stood  and  walked,  and  entered  with  them  into  the 
temple,  walking,  and  leaping,  and  praising  God.— Acts  iii.  1-8. 

Forth  at  the  hour  of  prayer, 
Went  the  Apostles  to  the  holy  place, 
The  sacred  temple  of  the  living  God, 
Where  praise  was  offered,  and  his  creatures  bowed 
In  humble  adoration  at  His  throne. 
Asking  remission  for  their  sins,  and  grace 
And  strength  to  guide  their  timid,  wavering  steps 
In  the  true  way  of  life. 

Onward  they  passed. 
With  hearts  o'erflowing  with  a  fervent  zeal 


148  THE    LAME    MAN    HEALED. 

To  do  their  Master's  service.     In  their  path, 

Near  by  the  temple's  gate,  lay  one,  who  had, 

From  the  first  era  of  existence,  borne 

Suflering  and  sore  affliction.     Life,  to  him. 

Was  as  a  cheerless  waste,  for  he  had  known 

No  springtime  of  enjoyment,  when  gay  youth 

Could  speed,  exulting,  on  the  ardent  race. 

Or  spend  the  sunny  hours  in  sportive  glee. 

All  the  heart's  impulses  were  crushed  and  chilled — 

For,  though  the  eye  might  mark  the  beautiful. 

And  the  soul  pine  for  freedom,  or  aspire 

To  high  and  lofty  things,  the  maimed  limbs, 

And  marred  and  wretched  frame,  like  prison-gates, 

Held  him  a  mourning  captive,  until  all 

Of  life  within — e'en  hope  itself — had  died — 

And  there  was  left  nor  tint  upon  his  cheek, 

Nor  lustre  in  his  eye. 

There  he  reclined. 
Where  pitying  hands  had  borne,  as  they  were  wont, 
The  feeble,  helpless  mendicant. — And  as 
Th'  Apostles  passed  his  cheerless  resting-place. 
His  trembling  voice  was  raised,  imploring  alms. 

They  stayed  their  footsteps.     Was  there  e'er  a  time 
When  the  sad  wail  of  sorrow  failed  to  reach 
His  ear,  whose  faithful  followers  they  were  ? 
His  was  compassion,  boundless,  infinite — 
Nor  creed,  nor  sect,  nor  station,  could  impede 
The  welling  up  of  sacred  sympathy, 
Within  His  bosom ! 


THELAMEMANHEALED.  149 

Like  their  blessed  Lord, 
They  felt  the  holy  impulse,  and  their  hearts 
Were  touched  with  pity,  as  they  stopped  and  turned 
Their  steadfast  eyes  upon  the  suffering  man. 

Then  Peter  said,  "  Look  on  us  /" — and  he  looked, 

With  expectation  kindling  in  his  glance. 

And  thankfulness  awakened  in  his  heart ; 

For,  from  the  hand  outstretched,  with  open  palm, 

The  alms  he  craved,  he  thought,  would  surely  come. 

Once  more  th'  Apostle  spoke: — '^Silver  and  gold 
Belong  not  to  me,  nor  can  I  bestow 
These,  but  the  gifts  I  have  I  freely  give — 
In  the  blessed  7iame  of  Christ  of  JVazareth, 
J  bid  thee  rise  and  ivalk  /"     And  lifting  him 
Upon  his  feet,  he  stood  in  manhood's  strength, 
No  longer  impotent. 

Then  went  he  forth, 
And  entered  with  them  in  the  temple  gate, 
Walking,  and  leaping,  and  adoring  God, 
Who  sent  his  faithful  ministers,  to  raise 
Him  from  the  lowest  depths  of  misery, 
And  fill  his  heart  with  joy. 

So,  Christian  soul. 
Though  darkly  round  thee  lowers  the  tempest  cloud, 
Veiling  the  brightness  of  thy  spirit's  joy. 
And  filling  thee  with  trembling  and  with  fear : 
Though  pain  and  anguish  rack  thee,  and  the  weak 
13* 


150  THELAMEMANHEALED. 

And  stricken  body  sinks  beneath  the  load 
Of  speechless  agony,  and  prostrate  lies 
In  helpless  wretchedness: — Remember,  still, 
That  there  is  One  above,  whose  watchful  eye 
Notes  all  thy  sufferings,  and  marks  thy  fears — 
Who  tries  and  proves  thy  faith,  that  thou  may'st  be 
Made  meet  partaker  of  the  bliss  that  waits 
Believers,  in  the  bright,  celestial  home. 
Prepared  for  those  who  put  their  trust  in  Him. 


CHRISTIAN    OBEDIENCE. 

SAMUEL    HAYES. 

And  they  called  them,  and  commanded  them  not  to  speak  at  all  nor  to  teach  in  the  name  of 
Jesus.  But  Peter  and  John  answered  and  said  unto  them.  Whether  it  be  right  in  the  sight  of 
God  to  hearken  unto  you  more  than  unto  God,  judge  ye. — Acts  iv.  18,  19. 

I. 

Awake,  ye  sons  of  men !     The  hallowed  word 

Contemplate,  stamped  with  truth's  immortal  seal ! 
Mark,  where  the  faithful  servants  of  their  Lord, 

Through  the  wide  world  Heaven's  high  behests  reveal ! — 
Calamities  from  ev'ry  quarter  press  ; 

Ten  thousand  perils  darken  all  the  view ; 
Contempt,  indignant  hatred,  sore  distress. 

And  friendless  indigence,  their  steps  pursue. 
Stern  persecution's  arm,  by  pow'r  maintained. 
The  ruthless  sword  uplifts,  with  martyrs'  blood  distained. 

II. 

Firm  amidst  legions  of  surrounding  foes. 

With  unremitted  zeal,  they  hold  their  course : 

Undaunted  'midst  oppression's  varied  woes. 
Defy  authority's  vindictive  force. 


152  CHRISTIAN    OBEDIENCE. 

In  vain  the  furious  bigot  threats ;  in  vain 

The  sophist  weaves  the  net  of  subtle  art : 

The  tyrant,  'midst  his  adulating  train, 

Feels  terror  shake  his  agonizing  heart; 

E'en  on  his  throne  he  trembles ;  guilt  and  shame 

Fix  deep  their  barbed  shafts,  and  rend  his  coward  frame. 

III. 

Behold  the  path  which  leads  to  endless  life ! 

In  this  the  martyr  trod,  all  pow'r  withstood ; 
Braved  every  danger  in  the  mortal  strife, 

And  ratified  his  faith  with  sacred  blood. — 
At  length,  oppression's  sanguinary  hand 

No  more  o'er  Christians  holds  vindictive  sway ; 
No  more  the  ruthless  tyrant's  fell  command 

Consigns  to  death  his  unresisting  prey. 
Yet  e'en  to  us,  from  all  these  terrors  freed, 
Still  the  same  hope  is  giv'n,  the  same  reward  decreed. 

IV. 

The  world,  in  all  its  boasted  grandeur  proud. 

In  all  its  stores  of  dazzling  splendour  bright, 
Is  but  a  transient,  unsubstantial  cloud, 

Which  the  sun  skirts  with  momentaiy  light : 
Anon,  th'  assailing  winds  impetuous  rise. 

Black  low'rs  the  tempest  in  the  sullen  sky ; 
Before  the  driving  blast  the  vision  dies, 

And  all  the  vivid  tints  of  splendour  fly : 
Pass  but  a  moment,  ev'ry  ray  is  gone ; 
Nor  e'en  a  vestige  left,  where  the  bright  glories  shone. 


CHRISTIAN    OBEDIENCE.  153 


V. 


And  shall  we,  for  this  visionary  gleam, 

Degen'rate  swerve  from  Heav'n's  immortal  plan  1 
Give  up,  for  vanity's  light  airy  dream, 

The  nobler  heritage  reserved  for  man  1 
Though  rocks  their  cragged  heads  in  ambush  hide, 

Though  storms  and  tempests  sweep  the  angry  main ; 
While  Hope's  fair  star  shines  forth,  auspicious  guide. 

E'en  tempests,  storms,  and  rocks,  oppose  in  vain. 
Safe,  'midst  the  ocean's  iterated  force, 
The  sacred  vessel  shapes  her  Heav'n-directed  course. 


THE    DEATH    OF    STEPHEN. 

WILLIAM    CROSWELL. 

But  lie  beiiie  full  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  looked  up  steaiifastly  into  heaven,  and  saw  the  glory  of 
God,  and  Jesus  standing  on  the  right  hand  of  God.  And  said,  "Behold,  I  see  the  heavens 
opened,  and  the  Son  of  man  standing  on  the  right  hand  of  God.'" — Acts  vii.  55,  56. 

With  awful  dread  his  murderers  shook, 

As,  radiant  and  serene, 
The  lustre  of  his  dying  look 

Was  like  an  angel's  seen ; 
Or  Moses'  face  of  paly  light, 

When  down  the  mount  he  trod. 
All  glowing  from  the  glorious  sight 

And  presence  of  his  God. 

To  us,  with  all  his  constancy. 

Be  his  rapt  vision  given. 
To  look  above  by  faith,  and  see 

Revealments  bright  of  heaven ; 
And  power  to  speak  our  triumphs  out. 

As  our  last  hour  draws  near. 
While  neither  clouds  of  fear  nor  doubt 

Before  our  view  appear. 


THE    CONVERSION    OF    ST.    PAUL. 

JOHN    KEBLE. 

And  he  fell  to  the  earth,  and  heard  a  voice  saying  unto  him,  "  Saul,  Saul,  why  persecutest 
thou  ine  ?"  And  he  said,  "  Who  art  thou,  Lord  ?"'  And  the  Lord  said,  "  I  am  Jesus  whom 
thou  persecutest." — Acts  ix.  4,  5. 

I. 

The  midday  sun,  with  fiercest  glare, 
Broods  o'er  the  hazy,  twinkUng  air ; 

Along  the  level  sand 
The  palm  tree's  shade  unwavering  lies. 
Just  as  thy  towers,  Damascus,  rise, 

To  greet  yon  wearied  band. 

11. 

The  leader  of  that  martial  crew 
Seems  bent  some  mighty  deed  to  do, 

So  steadily  he  speeds, 
With  lips  firm  closed  and  fixed  eye. 
Like  warrior  when  the  fight  is  nigh, 

Nor  talk  nor  landscape  heeds. 


156  THE    CONVERSION    OF    ST.    PAUL. 

III. 

What  sudden  blaze  is  round  him  poured, 
As  though  all  heaven's  refulgent  hoard 

In  one  rich  glory  shone  ? 
One  moment — and  to  earth  he  falls ; 
What  voice  his  inmost  heart  appals  1 — 

Voice  heard  by  him  alone. 

IV. 

For  to  the  rest  both  words  and  form 
Seem  lost  in  lightning  and  in  storm, 

While  Saul,  in  wakeful  trance. 
Sees  deep  within  that  dazzling  field 
His  persecuted  Lord  revealed, 

With  keen  yet  pitying  glance ; 

V. 

And  hears  the  meek  upbraiding  call 
As  gently  on  his  spirit  fall. 

As  if  th'  Almighty  Son 
Were  prisoner  yet  in  this  dark  earth. 
Nor  had  proclaimed  his  royal  birth, 

Nor  his  great  power  begun. 

VI. 

"  Ah !  wherefore  persecutest  thou  me  ?" 
He  heard  and  saw,  and  sought  to  free 
His  strained  eye  from  the  sight ; 


THE    CONVERSION    OF    ST.    PAUL.  157 

But  Heaven's  high  magic  bound  it  there, 
Still  gazing,  though  untaught  to  bear 
Th'  insufferable  light. 


VII. 

"  Who  art  thou,  Lord  1"  he  falters  forth : — 
So  shall  sin  ask  of  heaven  and  earth 

At  the  last  awful  day, 
"  When  did  we  see  thee  suffering  nigh. 
And  passed  thee  with  unheeding  eye  ? 

Great  God  of  judgment,  say  !" 

VIII. 

Ah !  little  dream  our  listless  eyes 
What  glorious  presence  they  despise. 

While,  in  our  noon  of  life. 
To  power  or  fame  we  rudely  press, 
Christ  is  at  hand,  to  scorn  or  bless, — 

Christ  suffers  in  our  strife. 


IX. 

And  though  heaven's  gates  long  since  have  closed, 
And  our  dear  Lord  in  bhss  reposed 

High  above  mortal  ken, 
To  every  ear  in  every  land 
(Though  meek  ears  only  understand) 

He  speaks  as  He  did  then. 
14 


158  THE   CONVERSION    OF    ST.    PAUL. 

X. 

"  Ah !  "wherefore  persecute  ye  me  1 
'Tis  hard,  ye  so  in  love  should  be 

With  your  own  endless  wo. 
Know,  though  at  God's  right  hand  I  live, 
I  feel  each  wound  ye  reckless  give 

To  the  least  saint  below. 

XI. 

"  I  in  your  care  my  brethren  left, 
Not  willing  ye  should  be  bereft 

Of  waiting  on  your  Lord. 
The  meanest  offering  ye  can  make — 
A  drop  of  water — for  love's  sake. 

In  heaven  be  sure,  is  stored." 

XII. 

Oh !  by  those  gentle  tones  and  dear. 
When  Thou  hast  stayed  our  wild  career. 

Thou  only  hope  of  souls, 
Ne'er  let  us  cast  one  look  behind. 
But  in  the  thought  of  Jesus  find 

What  every  thought  controls. 

XIII. 

As  to  thy  last  Apostle's  heart, 
Thy  lightning  glance  did  then  impart 
Zeal's  never-dying  fire, 


THE    CONVERSION    OF    ST.    PAUL.  159 

So  teach  us  on  thy  shrine  to  lay 
Our  hearts,  and  let  them  day  by  day 
Intenser  blaze  and  higher. 

XIV. 

And  as  each  mild  and  winnincr  note 
(Like  pulses  that  round  harp-strings  float, 

When  the  full  strain  is  o'er) 
Left  lingering  on  his  inward  ear 
Music,  that  taught,  as  death  drew  near, 

Love's  lesson  more  and  more  ; 

XV. 

So,  as  we  walk  our  earthly  round. 
Still  may  the  echo  of  that  sound 

Be  in  our  memory  stored ; 
"  Christians  !  behold  your  happy  state  ; 
Christ  is  in  these,  who  round  you  wait ; 

Make  much  of  your  dear  Lord !" 


THE    PREACHING    OF    ST.    PAUL. 

JOHN    LETTICE. 

And  straightway  he  preached  Christ  in  the  synagogues,  tliat  he  is  the  son  of  God.  But  all 
that  heard  him  were  amazed,  and  said,  "  Is  not  this  he  that  destroyed  them  which  called  on 
this  name  in  Jerusalem,  and  came  hither  for  that  intent,  that  he  might  bring  them  bound  unto 
the  chief  priests?"  But  Saul  increased  the  more  in  strength,  and  confounded  the  Jews  which 
dwelt  at  Damascus,  proving  that  this  is  very  Christ. — Acts  i,\.  20-22. 

Each  holy  rite  performed,  the  zealous  saint 
Poured  from  his  tongue  spontaneous  the  stream 
Of  eloquence  and  inspiration.     Lo  ! 
The  gazing  synagogue,  in  wonder  wrapt, 
Devour  his  pregnant  speech.     Th'  instructive  sage, 
With  simple  style,  deliberate  address, 
And  nervous  argument,  now  vindicates 
The  great  Messiah.     Now  with  words  that  live. 
With  thoughts  that  burn,  the  last  tremendous  day, 
Expiring  nature  and  the  doom  of  man. 
He  thunders  on  the  soul.     Sin's  ghastly  front, 
Her  shape  deformed,  the  poison  of  her  touch, 
Behind  her  Vengeance  with  eternal  fire, 
He  next  describes.     Affrighted  conscience  'wakes  ; 


THE    PREACHING    OF    ST.    PAUL.  161 

The  murd'rer  starts  aghast !  th'  oppressor  groans ; 
Th'  adulterer  trembles,  and  the  harlot  weeps. 
What  heart  so  pure,  so  innocent  of  vice. 
But  shuddered  there ! — Now  with  mellifluous  tongue, 
He  soothes  the  scorpion  sting  of  conscious  guilt. 
Behold !  each  faded  countenance  relumed 
With  hope  and  gladness,  whilst  the  chosen  saint 
Unfolds  the  myst'ries  of  redeeming  love, 
Of  grace  and  mercy  infinite,  displays 
The  high  rewards  of  penitence  and  life 
Reformed,  the  freedom  of  the  Christian  yoke 
Avers,  and  testifies  th'  eternal  league 
'Twixt  happiness  and  virtue.     Now  to  crown 
The  preacher's  task,  with  sweet  persuasive  phrase, 
He  wins  th'  enchanted  auditors  to  peace, 
Long-suff'ring,  gentleness,  and  social  love, 
The  godlike  spirit  of  his  Master's  laws ! 

Was  this  the  hot  vindictive  Pharisee '? 
O  strange  conversion !     This  th'  impetuous  Saul, 
That  late  dire  menaces  and  slaughter  breathed  ? 
Was  this,  sage  priest,  the  minister  of  wrath 
Fixed  by  the  dreaded  sanction  of  thy  power 
To  hurl  perdition  on  the  rising  church  ? 
What !     Were  those  hands,  now  lifted  up  to  Heav'n 
To  bless  man's  great  Redeemer,  once  imbrued 
In  the  pure  blood  of  his  devoted  saints, 
And  consecrated  martyrs  ?     Wondrous  change ! 
But  what  can  check  that  All-controlling  Power, 
Who  turns  the  course  of  Nature  at  His  will ; 
Whose  word  was  med'cine  to  the  sick,  whose  call 
14* 


162  THE    PREACHING    OF    ST.    PAUL. 

Awoke  the  grave's  cold  tenants,  whose  firm  step 
Trod  the  soft  surface  of  the  ocean,  whilst 
His  potent  voice  bade  the  curled  waves  subside, 
And  hushed  the  wind's  wild  uproar  into  peace? 

Behold !  th'  illustrious  convert  now  invades 
The  reign  of  Gentile  darkness.     See !  appalled 
Black  superstition,  with  her  baleful  throng 
Of  self-bred  fears,  and  unembodied  forms 
That  haunt  despair ;  the  foul  unholy  train 
Of  molten  idols  and  fantastic  gods 
Shrink  at  his  presence,  like  the  fleeting  shades 
Of  sullen  night,  when  first  Hyperion's  orb 
Scatters  its  purple  radiance  o'er  the  skies. 
Nor  long  the  majesty  of  Jove  supreme 
Withstood  the  thunder  of  the  preacher's  tongue. 
Tottered  his  throne,  his  golden  sceptre  fell ; 
Nor  more  Olympus  trembled  at  his  nod. 
No  longer  smoked  his  odoriferous  shrines 
With  frankincense  and  myrrh,  the  fragrant  breath 
Of  Araby  ;  nor  bleeding  hecatomb 
Distained  his  blushing  altars.     Solemn  praise 
And  pray'rs  devoutly  breathed,  the  tears,  the  sighs 
Of  penitential  grief,  the  broken  heart. 
Now  formed  the  Gentile's  purer  sacrifice 
To  the  true  God.     Each  attribute 
That  points  th'  Almighty  Parent  of  the  World 
To  man's  conceptions,  legibly  portrayed 
On  Nature's  page,  th'  enlightened  convert  sees ; 
And  as  he  views,  his  elevated  breast, 
With  inextinguishable  ardour,  burns 


THE    PREACHING    OF    ST.    PAUL.  163 

For  truth,  for  life  and  immortality. 

Where'er  the  preacher  rolled  the  powerful  tide 

Of  inspiration,  from  each  fabled  haunt 

Foul  error  fled,  whether  the  Roman  school. 

Or  Attic  portico  her  presence  held ; 

Or  the  dark  inmate  of  the  Pagan  shrine. 

She  heaped  vain  incense  to  some  idol-god. 

O !  may  those  living  oracles  of  light, 
That  boast  the  sanction  of  thine  hallowed  pen, 
Illustrious  convert !  o'er  each  gloomy  land, 
Where  still  pale  fear  and  superstition  reign, 
Spread  the  rich  treasures  of  immortal  truth ! 
May  the  false  prophet's  sensual  paradise, 
Base  hope  of  wretched  ignorance  and  lust, 
Allure  no  more  the  pilgrim's  weary  step 
To  Mecca's  walls :  no  longer  Fohi's  name 
Usurp  the  prostrate  adoration,  due 
To  God  alone :  nor  more  th'  unconscious  sun 
Provoke  the  trembling  Indian's  fruitless  vow : 
But  may  one  mind,  one  faith,  one  hope,  one  God 
Unite  the  scattered  progeny  of  man ! 


THE    GOSPEL    TRIAD. 

GEORGE    BUKGESS. 

And  now  abideth  faitli,  hope,  charity,  these  three ;  but  the  greatest  of  these  is  charity. 
1  Cor.  xiii.  13. 

Is  it  some  sport  of  Fancy's  silver  light, 
That  darts  along  the  shades  of  scattered  night  ? 
Or  gleams  from  spot  to  spot  on  mortal  ground, 
The  mystic  web  through  time  and  nature  wound  ? 

Three  holy  graces  came  from  heaven  to  man. 
Three  great  apostles  led  their  peaceful  van, 
Three  lengthened  ages,  blending  each  with  each. 
From  truth's  first  blaze,  to  earth's  last  glory  reach : 
And  each  apostle  wears  one  holy  grace, 
And  each  long  age  is  one  apostle's  trace. 
The  age  of  Faiih,  it  leaned  on  Peter's  name. 
And  stood  a  rock  'mid  seas  of  mounting  flame : 
Its  youthful  strength  the  assailant's  fury  broke, 
And  error  crouched  beneath  its  scourging  stroke. 


THE    GOSPEL   TRIAD.  165 

It  held  the  cross  with  zeal's  impetuous  hand, 

And  touched,  and  blessed,  and  swayed  each  savage  land ; 

Chose  for  itself  the  lonely  cell  and  cave. 

But  reared  for  heaven  the  minster's  glorious  nave : 

The  age  of  Hope,  it  heard  the  conqueror's  call, 

And  girt  the  shield,  and  grasped  the  sword  of  Saul ; 

It  strove  for  truth,  and  truth  in  strife  it  won. 

Strong  in  the  word,  the  immortal  cause  went  on ; 

Foiled  and  still  foiled,  the  hostile  armies  swell. 

Long  is  the  work,  yet  toil  the  champions  well ; 

Ranged  for  the  last,  the  fierce  opposer  stands, 

And  doubt  and  discord  tear  the  faithful  bands, 

A  hundred  winds  their  hundred  banners  blow. 

Yet  beams  on  each,  defiance  to  the  foe ; 

From  victory  rings  their  clarion's  mingling  tone, 

We  hear  their  peal,  but  hear  in  hope  alone. 

The  age  of  Love, — O,  who  its  light  shall  see  ? 

Beloved  apostle !  tells  it  not  of  thee  ? 

The  strife  is  o'er,  the  day  of  triumph  nigh ; 

In  palmy  groves  the  shields  are  hung  on  high : 

For  every  band  its  destined  place  is  there. 

And  every  brow  its  worthy  wreath  must  wear ; 

A  blooming  garden  rises  o'er  the  waste. 

Amid  its  walks  they  rove,  and  till,  and  taste ; 

The  playful  lyre  in  tuneful  numbers  sweep. 

Or  speak,  or  sing,  of  wisdom  high  and  deep. 

Then  sit  them  down  and  watch  the  fading  ray ; 

Their  eve  is  morn,  their  morn  an  endless  day. 


PURE    RELIGION. 


CARLOS    WILCOX. 


Pure  religion,  and  iindefiled  before  God  and  the  Father,  is  this,  To  visit  the  fatherless  and 
the  widows  in  their  affliction,  and  to  keep  himself  unspotted  from  the  world.— St.  James 
i.  27. 

WouLDST  thou  from  sorrow  find  a  sweet  relief? 
Or  is  thy  heart  oppressed  with  woes  untold  ? 
Balm  wouldst  thou  gather  for  corroding  grief? 
Pour  blessings  round  thee  like  a  shower  of  gold. — 
'Tis  when  the  rose  is  wrapt  in  many  a  fold 
Close  to  its  heart,  the  worm  is  wasting  there 
Its  life  and  beauty ;  not  when,  all  unrolled, 
Leaf  after  leaf,  its  bosom,  rich  and  fair, 
Breathes  freely  its  perfumes  throughout  the  ambient  air. 

Wake,  thou  that  sleepest  in  enchanted  bowers, 
Lest  these  lost  years  should  haunt  thee  on  the  night 
When  death  is  waiting  for  thy  numbered  hours 
To  take  their  swift  and  everlasting  flight ; 
Wake,  ere  the  earth-born  charm  unnerve  thee  quite. 
And  be  thy  thoughts  to  work  divine  addressed ; 
Do  something — do  it  soon — with  all  thy  might ; 
An  angel's  wing  would  droop  if  long  at  rest. 
And  God  himself,  inactive,  were  no  longer  blest. 


PURE   RELIGION.  167 

Some  high  or  humble  enterprise  of  good 
Contemplate,  till  it  shall  possess  thy  mind, 
Become  thy  study,  pastime,  rest,  and  food, 
And  kindle  in  thy  heart  a  flame  refined. 
Pray  Heaven  for  firmness  thy  whole  soul  to  bind 
To  this  thy  purpose — to  begin,  pursue. 
With  thoughts  all  fixed,  and  feelings  purely  kind ; 
Strength  to  complete,  and  with  delight  review. 
And  grace  to  give  the  praise  where  all  is  ever  due. 

No  good  of  worth  sublime  will  Heaven  permit 
To  light  on  man  as  from  the  passing  air ; 
The  lamp  of  genius,  though  by  nature  lit, 
If  not  protected,  pruned,  and  fed  with  care. 
Soon  dies,  or  runs  to  waste  with  fitful  glare ; 
And  learning  is  a  plant  that  spreads  and  towers 
Slow  as  Columbia's  aloe,  proudly  rare, 
That,  'mid  gay  thousands,  with  the  suns  and  showers 
Of  half  a  century,  grows  alone  before  it  flowers. 

Has  immortality  of  name  been  given 
To  them  that  idly  worship  hills  and  groves. 
And  burn  sweet  incense  to  the  queen  of  heaven  ? 
Did  Newton  learn  from  fancy,  as  it  roves. 
To  measure  worlds,  and  follow  where  each  moves  1 
Did  Howard  gain  renown  that  shall  not  cease. 
By  wanderings  wild  that  nature's  pilgrim  loves  ? 
Or  did  Paul  gain  heaven's  glory  and  its  peace. 
By  musing  o'er  the  bright  and  tranquil  isles  of  Greece  ? 

Beware  lest  thou,  from  sloth,  that  would  appear 
But  lowliness  of  mind,  with  joy  proclaim 


168  PURE    RELIGION. 

Thy  want  of  worth  ;  a  charge  thou  couldst  not  hear 
From  other  hps,  without  a  blush  of  shame, 
Or  pride  indignant ;  then  be  thine  the  blame, 
And  make  thyself  of  worth ;  and  thus  enlist 
The  smiles  of  all  the  good,  the  dear  to  fame ; 
'Tis  infamy  to  die  and  not  be  missed. 
Or  let  all  soon  forget  that  thou  didst  e'er  exist. 

Rouse  to  some  work  of  high  and  holy  love, 
And  thou  an  angel's  happiness  shalt  know, — 
Shalt  bless  the  earth  while  in  the  world  above ; 
The  good  begun  by  thee  shall  onward  flow 
In  many  a  branching  stream,  and  wider  grow ; 
The  seed  that,  in  these  few  and  fleeting  hours. 
Thy  hands  unsparing  and  unwearied  sow, 
Shall  deck  thy  grave  with  amaranthine  flowers. 
And  yield  thee  fruits  divine  in  heaven's  immortal  bowers. 


ST.    PETER'S    RELEASE. 

JOHN    KEBLE. 

And  when  Herod  would  have  brought  him  forth,  the  same  night  Peter  was  sleeping  between 
two  soldiers,  bound  with  two  chains:  and  the  keepers  before  the  door  kept  the  prison.  And, 
behold,  the  angel  of  the  Lord  came  upon  him  and  a  light  shined  in  the  prison  :  and  he  smote 
Peter  on  the  side,  and  raised  him  up,  saying,  "Arise  up  quickly."  And  his  chains  fell  off 
from  his  hands.  And  the  angel  said  unto  him,  "  Gird  thyself,  and  bind  on  thy  sandals :"  and 
so  he  did,  and  he  saith  unto  him,  "Cast  thy  garment  about  thee,  and  follow  me."— Acts 
xii.  e-8. 

Thou  thrice  denied,  yet  thrice  beloved, 
Watch  by  thine  own  forgiven  friend  ; 

In  sharpest  perils  faithful  proved, 
Let  his  soul  love  thee  to  the  end. 

The  prayer  is  heard — else  w^hy  so  deep 

His  slumber  on  the  eve  of  death  ? 
And  wherefore  smiles  he  in  his  sleep 

As  one  who  drew  celestial  breath  1 

He  loves  and  is  beloved  again — 

Can  his  soul  choose  but  be  at  rest  ? 
Sorrow  hath  fled  away,  and  pain 

Dares  not  invade  the  guarded  nest. 
15 


170  ST.    PETER'S    RELEASE. 

He  dearly  loves,  and  not  alone : 

For  his  winged  thoughts  are  soaring  high 

Where  never  yet  frail  heart  was  known 
To  breathe  in  vain  affection's  sigh. 

He  loves  and  weeps — but  more  than  tears 
Have  sealed  thy  welcome  and  his  love — 

One  look  lives  in  him,  and  endears 

Crosses  and  wrongs  where'er  he  rove : 

That  gracious  chiding  look,  Thy  call, 
To  win  him  to  himself  and  Thee, 

Sweetening  the  sorrow  of  his  fall. 
Which  else  were  rued  too  bitterly. 

Even  through  the  veil  of  sleep  it  shines, 
The  memory  of  that  kindly  glance; — 

The  angel  watching  by  divines, 

And  spares  awhile  his  blissful  trance. 

Or  haply  to  his  native  lake 

His  vision  wafts  him  back,  to  talk 

With  Jesus,  ere  his  flight  he  takes, 
As  in  that  solemn  evening  walk, 

When  to  the  bosom  of  his  friend. 

The  Shepherd,  He  whose  name  is  Good, 

Did  his  dear  lambs  and  sheep  commend, 
Both  bousrht  and  nourished  with  His  blood 


ST.    PETER'S    RELEASE.  171 

Then  laid  on  him  th'  inverted  tree, 

Which,  firm  embraced  with  heart  and  arm, 

Might  cast  o'er  hope  and  memory, 
O'er  Hfe  and  death,  its  awful  charm. 

With  brightening  heart  he  bears  it  on. 
His  passport  through  the  eternal  gates, 

To  his  sweet  home — so  nearly  won, 
He  seems,  as  by  the  door  he  waits, 

The  unexpressive  notes  to  hear 

Of  angel  song  and  angel  motion. 
Rising  and  falling  on  the  ear 

Like  waves  in  Joy's  unbounded  ocean. 

His  dream  is  changed — the  tyrant's  voice 

Calls  to  that  last  of  glorious  deeds — 
But  as  he  rises  to  rejoice. 

Not  Herod,  but  an  angel  leads. 

He  dreams  he  sees  a  lamp  flash  bright. 

Glancing  around  his  prison  room, — 
But  'tis  a  gleam  of  heavenly  light 

That  fills  up  all  the  ample  gloom. 

The  flame,  that  in  a  few  short  years 
Deep  through  the  chambers  of  the  dead 

Shall  pierce,  and  dry  the  fount  of  tears, 
Is  waving  o'er  his  dungeon-bed. 


172  ST.    PETER'S    RELEASE. 

Touched,  he  up  starts — his  chains  unbind — 
Through  darksome  vault,  up  massy  stair, 

His  dizzy,  doubting  footsteps  wind 
To  freedom  and  cool  moonlight  air. 

Then  all  himself,  all  joy  and  calm. 
Though  for  awhile  his  hand  forego. 

Just  as  it  touched  the  martyr's  palm. 
He  turns  him  to  his  task  below ; 

The  pastoral  staff,  the  keys  of  heaven. 
To  wield  awhile  in  gray-haired  might, 

Then  from  his  cross  to  spring  forgiven, 
And  follow  Jesus  out  of  siffht. 


PAUL  AND  BARNABAS  AT  LYSTRA. 

CHAKLES    HOYLE. 

And  there  sat  a  certain  man  at  Lystra,  impotent  in  his  feet,  being  a  cripple  from  his  mother's 
womb,  who  never  had  walked  :  the  same  heard  Paul  speak :  who  steadfastly  beholding  him, 
and  perceiving  that  he  had  faith  to  be  healed,  said  with  a  loud  voice,  "  Stand  upright  on  thy 
feet,"  and  he  leaped  and  walked.  And  when  the  people  saw  what  Paul  had  done,  they  lifted 
up  their  voices,  saying  in  the  speech  of  Lycaonia,  "  The  gods  are  come  down  to  us  in  the 
likeness  of  men." — Acts  xiv.  8-11. 

Emerging  from  the  whirlwind  and  the  storm 
Of  persecution,  Paul,  with  Barnabas, 
To  Lystra  comes,  and  earnest  there  proclaims 
Redemption,  Judgment ;  heraldry  divine, 
Tidings  melodious  as  angelic  bliss, 
And  sovereign  as  the  harp  of  Jesse's  son 
To  heal  distempered  minds :  his  ardent  speech 
Rebukes,  exhorts ;  now  thundering  in  their  ears 
The  terror  of  the  Lord,  unfolding  now 
Mystery  of  love  omnipotent.     "  Awake, 
Arise,  benighted  sleepers,  from  the  dead. 
And  Christ  shall  give  you  wisdom,  and  instruct 
To  cheque   life's  dark  vale  with  sunny  gleams 
Of  truth  and  virtue,  'till  Salvation  ope 
15* 


174  PAUL   AND   BARNABAS   AT   LYSTRA. 

Her  portals  and  her  mansions,  to  receive 
And  welcome  you  to  rapture !" — Crowds,  athirst 
For  novelty,  around  th'  apostle  press, 
Lightly  to  hear,  and  lightly  to  depart. 
Relapsing  to  oblivion :  while  obdured 
By  vain  philosophy,  high-reaching  power, 
Patrician  eminence,  voluptuous  ease. 
The  children  of  prosperity  deride 
Contrition's  call.     Far  other  passion  moves 
Yon  loathed  beggar,  cripple  from  the  womb. 
On  the  cold  earth  extended,  and  embossed 
With  leprosy ;  yet  glorious  all  within. 
Arrayed  in  righteousness,  and  eagle-winged 
With  piety  and  hope ;  thence  happier  far 
Than  they  from  whom  his  supplication  rings 
A  scanty  alms. — (Ambition's  blaze,  the  dreams 
Of  fame  and  riches,  vanish  and  decay ; 
But  virtues  vanish  not,  to  paradise 
Translated  with  empyreal  youth  to  bloom.) 
In  squalor  and  in  delirection  scorned, 
Outcast  of  human  pity,  but  upheld 
By  grace  and  guardian  seraphim,  and  doomed 
On  earth  to  suffer,  but  rejoice  in  heaven. 
The  mourner  lay ;  when  he  of  Tarsus  saw 
His  misery,  and  with  thought-exploring  eye 
Discerned  his  faith,  and  issued  thus  command : 

"  Arise,  forlorn  and  helpless,  from  the  dust ; 
Forget  thy  desolation :  in  the  name 
Of  Jesus  rise  and  walk !" — While  yet  he  spake, 
Through  the  shrunk  sinews  and  contracted  limbs 


PAUL   AND   BARNABAS   AT   LYSTRA.  175 

Ethereal  vigour  darts  like  lightning  flame, 
Enkindling  health,  and  purging  ofT  in  scales 
Leprous  pollution  ;  through  each  pulse  and  vein, 
Through  sense  and  motion,  heart  and  eye  and  soul, 
The  genial  spirits  dance ;  and  the  gaunt  frame, 
Late  the  mind's  noisome  dungeon,  spheres  her  nov^' 
In  palace  of  delight.     The  cripple  rose 
Exulting,  walked  and  leaped  and  bounding  ran 
Light  as  the  roebuck ;  yet  in  frantic  joy 
Not  thankless,  or  unmindful  to  extol 
Supernal  mercy.     Him  the  multitude 
Pursued  and  held ;  insatiate  to  survey 
In  speculation  mute  his  altered  form. 
Athletic  beauty :  Some,  half  fearful,  touched 
The  w^ithered  lazar  hands,  now  warm  with  blood 
Salubrious,  and  with  pliant  muscles  strung : 
Some  lilted  up  his  garments,  to  behold 
The  well-compacted  knees,  th'  elastic  feet. 
And  ankles  firm ;  while  round  the  whisper  flew, 
"  Is  this  the  suppliant  stretched  so  late  supine. 
Fed  by  precarious  bounty,  and  with  groans 
Saddening  the  day  ?"     Confusion  of  applause, 
Tempest  of  acclamation,  next  ensued 
From  young  and  old  :  "  The  Deities  descend 
In  mortal  shape !"  they  cried :  "  To  Lystra's  domes 
And  honoured  temples,  welcome  and  all  hail, 
Dread-thundering  monarch,  cloud-compelling  Jove  ! 
Bright  son  of  Maia,  hail !"     The  city  swarms 
In  wild  commotion  roused  as  by  afli'ight 
Of  midnight  conflagration  or  the  din 
Of  battle:  streets  and  avenues  dissorcje 


176     PAUL  AND  BARNABAS  AT  LYSTRA. 

Augmenting  thousands :  matrons,  children,  chmb 

The  roofs  and  walls,  and  in  astonishment 

Sit  gazing  there.     So  all  was  ecstacy 

And  tumult  all,  'till  veneration  hushed 

Their  thronged  idolatry :  for  now  the  priest 

Of  Jupiter  advancing,  oxen  brought 

And  garlands,  and  the  sanctimonious  rites 

Solemn  prepared,  though  with  disordered  pomp, 

As  summoned  hasty :  now  the  goblet  foamed 

Libation,  and  the  victim's  neck  was  bowed ; 

Spices  in  odorous  piles  already  blazed, 

Already  the  grim  sacrificer  stood 

In  act  to  strike ;  when,  with  indignant  shame, 

Th'  ambassadors  of  Majesty  divine, 

Perceiving  their  intent,  among  them  rushed 

Precipitate,  and  boldly  overthrew 

Each  instrument  of  worship,  and  reproved 

Their  impious  folly. — "  Cease  ye,  nor  present 

Knee-tribute,  nor  to  us  the  name  ascribe 

Of  Godhead ;  wanderers  we,  of  earthly  mould ; 

Of  peril,  wo,  disaster,  and  disease 

Partakers,  and  of  death.     But  would  ye  learn 

Whom  and  how  best  to  worship,  that  our  lips. 

Instructed  and  commissioned,  shall  declare. 

"Can  the  dumb  idol  measure  in  his  hand 
The  floods  of  ocean,  or  in  balance  weigh 
The  mountains  and  the  valleys,  or  convulse 
The  steadfast  earth,  alternate  rouse  and  quell 
The  stormy  winds,  and  bid  conflicting  clouds 
Dissolve  in  deluge  1  or  will  thunders  roar, 


PAUL   AND   BARNABAS   AT   LYSTRA.  177 

And  lightnings  flash,  obsequious  to  his  call  ? 

Say,  can  the  molten  image  look  abroad 

Through  depths  of  ether,  and  appoint  each  orb 

To  come  and  go,  refulgent  now  t'  illume 

The  firmamental  concave,  now  withdraw 

To  dimness  and  extinction?  can  such  eye, 

Like  sunbeam,  search  affection  and  desire  ? 

Hath  motionless  and  chiselled  marble  power 

And  wisdom  1  can  it  punish  and  reward 

Guilt  undivulged  and  virtues  yet  unknown, 

Judge  by  the  heart,  and  equity  dispense 

To  empires  and  to  worlds  ?     He  only  can. 

Whom,  Lord  of  immortality  and  life. 

Supreme,  invisible,  Almighty  King, 

Sole  Godhead  I  proclaim.     Ye  heavens,  attend ! 

Give  ear,  O  earth !  all-radiant  sun,  confess 

Thine  Author !    Times  and  seasons,  months  and  years, 

And  all  that  live  or  live  not,  record  join, 

His  wonders  of  perfection  to  display ! 

Him,  the  one  God  and  true,  through  youth  and  age. 

Through  peril  and  through  safety,  joy  and  wo. 

Perpetual  will  we  worship,  and  extol 

His  wondrous  name,  in  bounty  wondrous  found 

To  all  that  live ;  them  chiefly  who  confess 

His  empire,  while  their  holiness  and  truth 

(Faith's  proper  signs)  like  lamp  celestial  burn. 

Dispelling  death,  and  darkness,  and  the  way 

Illuminating  to  Jehovah's  throne." 

The  congregation  heard. 
Awe-struck,  yet  unrepentant,  murmuring  paid 


178  PAUL   AND   BARNABAS   AT   LYSTRA. 

Obedience,  and  reluctantly  dismissed 
The  sacrifices :  then  with  cloudy  front 
And  troubled  rumination,  sad  and  slow 
Dispersing,  to  their  several  homes  returned. 

And  couldst  thou,  Lystra,  thus  ungracious  hear 
Such  exhortation,  or  the  following  morn 
With  arms  and  murderous  insurrection  chase 
Heaven's  ministers,  while  the  converted  few 
Aloof  stood  mourning,  powerless  to  resist 
The  popular  frenzy  1 — So  Jerusalem 
Carolled  Hosannas  to  th'  approaching  Son 
Of  David :  but  in  little  space  how  changed ! 
That  triumph  yet  re-echoing  in  mid  air, 
Her  fierce  impiety  with  uproar  doomed 
Messiah  to  the  cross ! — So  scorns  the  world 
Each  admonition  that  from  idol  vows 
Of  pleasure,  avarice,  or  ambitious  power. 
Adjures  them  to  return,  and  find  repose 
And  pardon  from  the  Mediatorial  Grace 
That  ransomed  man. — O,  high  and  lofty  Sire, 
Inhabiting  eternity,  incline 
A  wayward  world  to  fear  Thee,  and  devote 
To  Thee  each  word  and  action,  heart  and  soul ! 


PAUL    AND    SILAS    AT    PHILIPPI. 

JOHN    PIERPONT. 

And  at  midnight  Paul  and  Silas  prayed,  and  sang  praises  unto  God:  and  the  prisoners  lieard 
thera.  And  suddenly  there  was  a  great  earthquake,  so  that  the  foundations  of  the  prison 
were  shaken  :  and  immediately  all  the  doors  were  opened,  and  every  one's  hands  were  loosed. 
— Acts  xvi.  25,  26. 

Heauest  thou  that  solemn  symphony,  that  swells 
And  echoes  through  Philippi's  gloomy  cells  ? 
From  vault  to  vault  the  heavy  notes  rebound, 
And  granite  rocks  reverberate  the  sound. 
The  wretch,  who  long  in  dungeons  cold  and  dank 
Had  shook  his  fetters,  that  their  iron  clank 
Might  break  the  gravelike  silence  of  that  prison, 
On  which  the  star  of  hope  had  never  risen ; 
Then  sunk  in  slumbers  by  despair  oppressed, 
And  dreamed  of  freedom  in  his  broken  rest; 
Wakes  at  the  music  of  these  mellow  strains, 
Thinks  it  some  spirit,  and  forgets  his  chains. 
'Tis  Paul  and  Silas,  who,  at  midnight  pay 
To  Him  of  Nazareth  a  grateful  lay, 
Soon  is  that  anthem  wafted  to  the  skies ; 
An  angel  bears  it,  and  a  God  replies : 


180  PAUL   AND   SILAS   AT    PHILIPPL 

At  that  reply  a  pale  portentous  light 
Plays  through  the  air, — then  leaves  a  gloomier  night ; 
The  darkly  tottering  towers, — the  trembling  arch, — 
The  rocking  walls  confess  a  monarch's  march, — 
The  stars  look  dimly  through  the  roof: — behold, 
From  saffron  dews,  and  melting  clouds  of  gold, 
Brightly  uncurling  on  the  dungeon's  air. 
Freedom  walks  forth  serene ;  from  her  loose  hair. 
And  every  glistening  feather  of  her  wings. 
Perfumes,  that  breathe  of  more  than  earth,  she  flings, 
And  with  a  touch  dissolves  the  prisoner's  chains. 
Whose  song  had  charmed  her  from  celestial  plains. 


PAUL  PREACHING  AT  ATHENS. 

ANN    CHARLOTTE    LYNCH. 

Then  Paul  stood  in  the  uiiiist  of  Mars'  Hill,  and  said,  "  Ye  men  of  Athens,  I  perceive  that 
in  all  things  j'e  are  too  superstitious.  For  as  I  passed  by,  and  beheld  your  devotions,  I  found 
an  altar  with  this  inscription.  To  the  Unknown  God.  Whom  therefore  ye  ignorantiy  wor- 
ship, him  declare  I  unto  you." — Acts  .wii.  20,  2;?. 

Greece  !  hear  that  joyful  sound, 
A  stranger's  voice  upon  thy  sacred  hill, 
Whose  tones  shall  bid  the  slumbering  nations  round 

Wake  with  convulsive  thrill. 
Athenians  !  gather  there  ;  he  brings  you  words, 
Brighter  than  all  your  boasted  lore  affords. 

He  brings  you  news  of  One 
Above  Olympian  Jove ;  One  in  whose  light 
Your  gods  shall  fade  like  stars  before  the  sun. 

On  your  bewildered  night, 
That  Unknown  God,  of  whom  ye  darkly  dream, 
In  all  his  burning  radiance  shall  beam. 

16 


182       PAUL  PREACHING  AT  ATHENS. 

Behold,  he  bids  you  rise 
From  your  dark  worship  round  that  idol  shrine ; 
He  points  to  Him  who  reared  your  starry  skies, 

And  bade  your  Phoebus  shine. 
Lift  up  your  souls  from  where  in  dust  ye  bow ; 
That  God  of  gods  commands  your  homage  now. 

But,  brighter  tidings  still ! 
He  tells  of  One  whose  precious  blood  was  spilt 
In  lavish  streams  upon  Judea's  hill, 

A  ransom  for  your  guilt ; — 
Who  triumphed  o'er  the  grave,  and  broke  its  chain ; 
Who  conquered  Death  and  Hell,  and  rose  again. 

Sages  of  Greece !  come  near — 
Spirits  of  daring  thought  and  giant  mould. 
Ye  questioners  of  time  and  nature,  hear 

Mysteries  before  untold ! — 
Immortal  hfe  revealed  !  light  for  which  ye 
Have  tasked  in  vain  your  proud  philosophy. 

Searchers  for  some  first  cause  ! 
'Midst  doubt  and  darkness — lo !  he  points  to  One 
Where  all  your  vaunted  reason  lost  must  pause. 

And  faint  to  think  upon, — 
That  was  from  everlasting,  that  shall  be 
To  everlasting  still,  eternally. 

Ye  followers  of  him 
Who  deemed  his  soul  a  spark  of  Deity, 


PAUL  PREACHING  AT  ATHENS.       183 

Your  fancies  fade, — your  master's  dreams  grow  dim 

To  this  reality. 
Stoic  !  unbend  that  brow,  drink  in  that  sound  ! 
Sceptic !  dispel  those  doubts, — the  Truth  is  found. 

Greece  !  though  thy  sculptured  walls 
Have  with  thy  triumphs  and  thy  glories  rung, 
And  through  thy  temples  and  thy  pillared  halls 

Immortal  poets  sung, — 
No  sounds  like  these  have  rent  your  startled  air ; 
They  open  realms  of  light,  and  bid  you  enter  there. 


THE    RESURRECTION. 

WILLIAM    HOLLAND. 

Because  he  hath  appointed  a  day,  in  the  which  he  will  judge  the  world  in  righteousness,  by 
that  man  whom  he  hath  ordained ;  whoreof  he  hath  given  assurance  unto  all  men,  in  that  he 
hath  raised  him  from  the  dead.  And  when  they  heard  of  the  resurrection  of  the  dead,  some 
mocked,  and  others  said,  "We  will  hear  thee  again  of  this  matter." — Acts  .wii.  31,  '.i-2. 

Upborne  on  towering  fancy's  eagle  wing, 
Methinks  imagination's  piercing  eye 
Darts  through  the  veil  of  ages,  and  beholds 
Imperial  Athens;  views  her  sumptuous  domes, 
Her  gorgeous  palaces,  and  splendid  fanes, 
Inscribed  to  all  the  various  deities 
That  crowd  the  pagan  heaven.     Amid  the  rest. 
An  altar  sacred  to  the  God  Unknown 
Attracts  my  gaze ;  I  see  a  list'ning  throng 
With  eager  haste  press  round  a  reverend  form. 
Whose  lifted  hands  and  contemplative  mien 
Express  the  anxious  feelings  of  a  mind 
Big  with  momentous  cares  :  'Tis  he  !  'Tis  he  ! 
Methinks  I  hear  the  apostle  of  my  God 


THE    RESURRECTION.  1S5 

From  blind  idolatry  to  purer  faith 
Call  the  deluded  city ;  naught  avails 
The  rude  abuse  of  jeering  ignorance, 
Nor  all  the  scoffs  that  malice  can  invent : 
To  duty  firm,  their  mockery  he  derides, 
And,  with  intrepid  tone,  divinely  brave. 
Proclaims  the  blessed  Jesus,  tells  His  power, 
His  gracious  mercy  and  unbounded  love 
To  sinful  man ;  tells  how  the  Saviour  fell, 
Awhile  a  victim  to  insulting  death, 
'Till,  bursting  from  the  prison  of  the  grave, 
He  rose  to  glory,  and  to  earth  declared 
These  joyful  tidings,  this  important  truth, — 
*'  There  is  another  and  a  better  world." 

Who  shall  describe  the  senate's  wild  amaze, 
When  the  great  orator  announced  that  day, 
That  solemn  day,  when  from  the  yawning  earth 
The  dead  shall  rise,  and  ocean's  deep  abyss 
Pour  forth  its  buried  millions  ?     When,  'mid  choirs 
Of  angels  throned,  the  righteous  God  shall  sit 
To  judge  the  gathered  nations.     Vice  appalled, 
With  trembling  steps  retired,  and  guilty  fear 
Shook  every  frame,  when  holy  Paul  pronounced 
The  awful  truth ;  dark  superstition's  fiend 
Convulsive  writhed  within  his  mighty  grasp, 
And  persecution's  dagger,  half  unsheathed. 
Back  to  its  scabbard  slunk ;  celestial  grace 
Around  him  beamed ;  sublime  the  apostle  stood, 
In  heaven's  impenetrable  armour  clothed, 
16* 


186  THE    RESURRECTION. 

Alone,  unhurt  before  a  host  of  foes. 
So,  'mid  the  billows  of  the  boundless  main, 
Some  rock's  vast  fabric  rears  its  lofty  form, 
And  o'er  the  angry  surge  that  roars  below 
Indignant  frowns :  in  vain  the  tempest  howls, 
The  blast  rude  sweeping  o'er  the  troubled  deep 
Assaults  in  vain :  unmoved  the  giant  views 
All  nature's  war,  as  'gainst  his  flinty  sides 
Wave  after  wave  expends  its  little  rage, 
And  breaks  in  harmless  murmurs  at  his  feet. 


m 


ay?u(^a. 


«Mb" 


PAUL    BEFORE    AGRIPPA. 

LYDIA    H.    SIGOURNEY. 

Then  Agrippa  said  unto  Paul,  "Almost  thou  persuadest  me  to  be  a  Christian."  And  Paul 
said,  "  I  would  to  God  that  not  only  thou,  but  also  all  that  hear  me  this  day,  were  both  almost, 
and  altogether  such  as  I  am,  except  these  bonds."— Acts  .xxvi.  28,  29. 

The  son  of  Herod  sat  in  regal  state 
Fast  by  his  sister  queen — and  'mid  the  throng 
Of  supple  courtiers,  and  of  Roman  guards, 
Gave  solemn  audience. — Summoned  to  his  bower 
A  prisoner  came — who,  with  no  flattering  tongue 
Brought  incense  to  a  mortal.     Every  eye 
Questioned  his  brow,  with  scowling  eagerness, 
As  there  he  stood  in  bonds.     But  when  he  spoke 
With  such  majestic  earnestness,  such  grace 
Of  simple  courtesy — ^with  fervent  zeal 
So  boldly  reasoned  for  the  truth  of  God, 
The  ardour  of  his  heaven-taught  eloquence 
Wrought  in  the  royal  bosom,  till  its  pulse 
Responsive  trembled,  with  the  new-born  hope, 
Almost  to  be  a  Christian. 

So  he  rose. 
And  with  the  courtly  train  swept  forth  in  pomp. 


J88  PAUL   BEFORE    AGRIPPA. 

Almost!  and  was  this  all, — thou  Jewish  prince? 

Thou  listened  to  the  ambassador  of  Heaven, 

Almost  persuaded  !     Ah  !  hadst  thou  exchanged 

Thy  trappings,  and  thy  purple,  for  his  bonds, 

Who  stood  before  thee ;  hadst  thou  drawn  his  hope 

Into  thy  bosom, — even  with  the  spear 

Of  martyrdom — how  great  had  been  thy  gain ! 

And  ye,  who  linger  while  the  call  of  God 

Bears  witness  with  your  conscience,  and  would  fain. 

Like  King  Agrippa,  follow,  yet  draw  back 

Awhile  into  the  vortex  of  the  world, — 

Perchance  to  swell  the  hoard  which  Death  shall  sweep 

Like  driven  chaff  away,  'mid  stranger  hands, — 

Perchance  by  Pleasure's  deadening  opiates  lulled 

To  false  security, — or,  by  the  fear 

Of  man  constrained, — or  moved  to  give  your  sins 

A  little  longer  scope, — beware  !  beware  ! 

Lest  that  dread  almost  shut  you  out  from  Heaven ! 


MIRACLES. 


WILLIAM    HOLLAND. 


In  my  name  shall  they  cast  out  devils;  they  shall  speak  with  new  tongues;  they  shall  take 
up  serpents  ;  and  if  they  drink  any  deadly  thing,  it  shall  not  hurt  them  ;  they  shall  lay  hands 
on  the  sick  and  they  shall  recover. — St.  Mark  xvi.  17. 

Let  not  the  sceptic's  ignorance  presume 
To  mark  the  hmits  of  celestial  power, 
Nor  weigh  its  greatness  in  the  partial  scale 
Of  little  man's  confined  philosophy. 
What !  shall  that  God,  whose  energies  divine 
Waked  slumb'ring  matter  from  the  dark  abyss 
Of  chaos,  and  with  all-creative  hand 
Bade  each  minuter  particle  assume 
Its  form  and  character;  shall  He,  whose  arm 
Upon  the  boundless  ocean  of  the  air 
Launched  yon  stupendous  continent  of  fire. 
Round  which,  by  laws  immutable  constrained. 
The  subject  planets  roll  their  pendant  orbs ; 
Shall  that  great  God,  who,  with  all-seeing  eye 
And  wisdom  infinite,  assigned  its  place 


190  MIRACLES. 

To  each  created  atom ;  who  arranged 

And  methodized  by  comprehensive  rule. 

In  order  beautiful,  the  harmonious  whole ; 

Who,  calling  forth  its  active  properties, 

And  blending  all  their  excellence,  produced 

That  miracle  of  miracles,  this  World ; — 

Shall  He  be  bounded  by  the  narrow  line 

Of  mortal  action?     Cease,  presumptuous  man; 

Doubt  not,  because  thou  canst  not  understand. 

Thy  circumscribed  reason  ne'er  shall  reach 

The  secret  depths,  or  trace  the  hidden  maze 

Of  heavenly  councils :  call  thy  truant  thoughts 

Back  to  their  God,  nor  with  fallacious  art 

Seek  to  mislead  th'  uncultivated  mind 

That  asks  of  thee  instruction :  rather  let 

The  passing  wonders  of  thy  Maker's  works 

Excite  thine  adoration,  and  arouse 

Thy  sleeping  faculties  in  hymns  of  praise : — 

"  Great  Lord  of  Life !  to  Thee  I  kneel,  to  Thee 

Pour  forth  the  warm  effusions  of  a  heart 

Grateful  for  all  Thy  mercies :  Lord,  look  down 

Upon  Thy  servant,  and,  as  once  Thou  deign'dst 

To  send  Thy  Spirit  to  conduct  the  steps 

Of  Israel's  children  through  the  pathless  waste 

To  happier  regions,  so  may'st  Thou,  O  God, 

Guide  through  this  world,  this  wilderness  of  sin, 

A  hopeless  wand'rer,  and  at  last  from  death 

Raise  up  his  raptured  soul  to  that  high  heaven, 

Where,  throned  with  Thee,  the  just  shall  ever  live. 

In  endless  peace  and  everlasting  love." 


CHRISTIAN   WARFARE. 

CHARLOTTE    ELIZABETH. 

Take  unto  you  the  whole  armour  of  God.— Ephesians  vi.  13. 

Soldier,  go,  but  not  to  claim 

Mouldering  spoils  of  earth-born  treasure, 
Not  to  build  a  vaunting  name. 

Not  to  dwell  in  tents  of  pleasure ; 
Dream  not  that  the  way  is  smooth, 

Hope  not  that  the  thorns  are  roses. 
Turn  no  wishful  eye  of  youth 

Where  the  sunny  beam  reposes ; — 
Thou  hast  sterner  work  to  do, 
Hosts  to  cut  thy  passage  through : 
Close  behind  thee  gulfs  are  burning — 
Forward  !  there  is  no  returning. 

Soldier,  rest — but  not  for  thee. 

Spreads  the  world  her  downy  pillow ; 

On  the  rock  thy  couch  must  be, 
While  around  thee  chafes  the  billow : 


192  CHRISTIAN    WARFARE. 

Thine  must  be  a  watchful  sleep, 

Wearier  than  another's  waking; 
Such  a  charge  as  thou  dost  keep 
Brooks  no  moment  of  forsaking. 
Sleep  as  on  the  battle-field, — 
Girded — grasping  sword  and  shield: 
Those  thou  canst  not  name  or  number, 
Steal  upon  thy  broken  slumber. 

Soldier,  rise — the  war  is  done ; 

Lo !  the  hosts  of  hell  are  flying ; 
'Twas  thy  Lord  the  battle  won, 

Jesus  vanquished  them  by  dying. 
Pass  the  stream — before  thee  lies 

All  the  conquered  land  of  glory ; 
Hark  !  what  songs  of  rapture  rise, 

These  proclaim  the  victor's  story. 
Soldier,  lay  thy  weapons  down. 
Quit  the  sword,  and  take  the  crown ; 
Triumph !  all  thy  foes  are  banished, 
Death  is  slain  and  earth  has  vanished. 


THE    SONG   OF    THE   REDEEMED. 

HENRY    ALFORD. 

And  I  lieard  as  it  were  the  voice  of  a  great  multitude,  and  as  the  voice  of  many  waters,  and 
as  the  voice  of  mighty  thunderings,  saying ;  "  Alleluia ;  for  the  Lord  God  omnipotent  reigneth." 
Uev.  xix.  G. 

Stand  up  before  your  God, 

You  army  bold  and  bright, 
Saints,  martyrs,  and  confessors, 

In  your  robes  of  white ; 
The  church  below  doth  challenge  you 

To  an  act  of  praise ; 
Ready  with  mirth  in  all  the  earth 

Her  matin  song  to  raise. 

Stand  up  before  your  God, 

In  beautiful  array, 
Make  ready  all  your  instruments 

The  while  we  mourn  and  pray; 
17 


194  THE   SONG    OF   THE   REDEEMED. 

For  we  must  stay  to  mourn  and  pray 

Some  prelude  to  our  song ; 
The  fear  of  death  has  clogged  our  breath 

And  our  foes  are  swift  and  strong. 

But  ye,  before  your  God, 

Are  hushed  from  all  alarm, 
Out  through  the  grave  and  gate  of  death 

Ye  have  past  into  the  calm  ; 
Your  fight  is  done,  your  victory  won. 

Through  peril  and  toil  and  blood ; 
Among  the  slain,  on  the  battle  plain. 

We  buried  ye  where  ye  stood. 

Stand  up  before  your  God, 

Although  we  cannot  hear 
The  new  song  he  hath  taught  you 

With  our  fleshly  ear, 
Our  bosoms  burn  that  hymn  to  learn, 

And  from  the  church  below. 
E'en  while  we  sing,  on  heavenward  wing 

Some  happy  souls  shall  go. 

Ye  stand  before  your  God, 

But  we  press  onward  still. 
The  soldiers  of  His  army. 

The  servants  of  His  will : 
A  captive  band,  in  foreign  land 

Long  ages  we  have  been ; 
But  our  dearest  theme  and  our  fondest  dream 

Is  the  home  we  have  not  seen. 


THE    SONG    OF   THE    REDEEMED.  195 

We  soon  shall  meet  our  God, 

The  hour  is  wafting  on, 
The  dayspring  from  on  high  hath  risen, 

And  the  night  is  spent  and  gone ; 
The  light  of  earth,  it  had  its  birth, 

And  it  shall  have  its  doom ; 
The  sons  of  earth  they  are  few  in  birth, 

But  many  in  the  tomb. 


THE   GOSPEL   OF   PEACE. 

JOHN    BO  WRING. 
FROM   THE   PORTUGUESE  OF   VIOLANTE   DO   CEO. 

And  how  shall  they  preach,  except  they  be  sent?  as  it  is  written,  How  beautiful  are  the 
feet  of  them  that  preach  the  gospel  of  peace,  and  bring  glaa  tidings  of  good  things. — Romans 
X.  15. 

While  to  Bethlem  we  are  going, 

Tell  me,  Bias,  to  cheer  the  road, 
Tell  me  why  this  lovely  infant 

Quitted  his  divine  abode  ? 
"  From  that  world,  to  bring  to  this 

Peace,  which,  of  all  earthly  blisses, 
Is  the  brightest  purest  bliss." 

Wherefore  from  his  throne  exalted 
Came  he  on  this  earth  to  dwell, — 

All  his  pomp  an  humble  manger. 
All  his  court  a  narrow  cell  l 

"  From  that  world  to  bring  to  this 
Peace,  which,  of  all  earthly  blisses, 

Is  the  brightest,  purest  bliss." 


THEGOSPELOFPEACE.  197 

Why  did  he,  the  Lord  Eternal, 

Mortal  pilgrim  deign  to  be, — 
He,  who  fashioned  for  his  glory 

Boundless  immortality  ? 
"  From  that  world  to  bring  to  this 

Peace,  which,  of  all  earthly  bhsses, 
Is  the  brightest,  purest  bliss." 

Well,  then,  let  us  haste  to  Bethlem, — 

Thither  let  us  haste  and  rest : 
For,  of  all  Heaven's  gifts,  the  sweetest, 

Sure,  is  Peace, — the  sweetest,  best. 


17* 


CHARITY. 


WILLIAM    PETER. 


1  Cor,  xiii. 


Though  Cowper's  zeal,  though  Milton's  fire 

Inspired  my  glowing  tongue ; 
Though  holier  raptures  woke  my  lyre 

Than  ever  seraph  sung ; 
Though  faith,  though  knowledge  from  above 

Mine  ardent  labours  crowned ; 
Did  I  not  glow  with  Christian  love, 

'Twere  but  an  empty  sound. 

Love  suffers  long ;  is  just,  sincere. 

Forgiving,  slow  to  blame ; 
Friend  of  the  good,  she  grieves  to  hear 

An  erring  brother's  shame. 
Meek,  holy,  free  from  selfish  zeal. 

To  generous  pity  prone, 
She  envies  not  another's  weal 

Nor  triumphs  in  her  own. 


CHARITY.  199 

No  evil,  no  suspicious  thought, 

She  harbours  in  her  breast ; 
She  tries  us  by  the  deeds  we've  wrought, 

And  still  believes  the  best. 
Love  never  fails ;  though  knowledge  cease, 

Though  prophecies  decay. 
Love,  Christian  love,  shall  still  increase, 

Shall  still  extend  her  sway. 

Here  dimly  through  life's  shadowy  glass 

We  strain  our  infant  eyes  ; 
Soon  shall  the  earthborn  vapours  pass. 

And  light  unclouded  rise ; 
Then  Hope  shall  sink  in  changeless  doom, 

Then  Faith's  bright  race  be  o'er, 
But  thou,  eternal  Love,  shall  bloom 

More  glorious  than  before. 


^ 


THE   POOR. 

JAMES     a.     PERCIVAL. 

If  in  this  life  only  we  have  hope  in  Christ,  we  are  of  all  men  most  miserable. — 
1  Cor.  XV.  19. 

There  is  a  mourner,  and  her  heart  is  broken ; 
She  is  a  widow ;  she  is  old  and  poor ; 
Her  only  hope  is  in  that  sacred  token 
Of  peaceful  happiness  when  life  is  o'er ; 
She  asks  nor  wealth  nor  pleasure,  begs  no  more 
Than  Heaven's  delightful  volume,  and  the  sight 
Of  her  Redeemer.     Sceptics,  would  you  pour 
Your  blasting  vials  on  her  head,  and  blight 
Sharon's  sweet  rose,  that  blooms  and  charms  her  being's 
night  ] 

She  lives  in  her  affections ;  for  the  grave 
Has  closed  upon  her  husband,  children ;  all 
Her  hopes  are  with  the  arm  she  trusts  will  save 
Her  treasured  jewels ;  though  her  views  are  small. 
Though  she  has  never  mounted  high,  to  fall 


THE    POOR.  201 

And  writhe  in  her  debasement,  yet  the  spring 
Of  her  meek,  tender  feelings,  cannot  pall 
Her  unperverted  palate,  but  will  bring 
A  joy  without  regret,  a  bliss  that  has  no  sting. 

Even  as  a  fountain,  whose  unsullied  wave 
Wells  in  the  pathless  valley,  flowing  o'er 
With  silent  waters,  kissing,  as  they  lave 
The  pebbles  with  light  rippling,  and  the  shore 
Of  matted  grass  and  flowers, — so  softly  pour 
The  breathings  of  her  bosom,  when  she  prays, 
Low-bowed,  before  her  Maker ;  then  no  more 
She  muses  on  the  griefs  of  former  days ; 
Her  full  heart  melts,  and  flows  in  Heaven's  dissolving  rays. 

And  faith  can  see  a  new  world,  and  the  eyes 
Of  saints  look  pity  on  her : — Death  will  come — 
A  few  short  moments  over,  and  the  prize 
Of  peace  eternal  waits  her,  and  the  tomb 
Becomes  her  fondest  pillow  ;  all  its  gloom 
Is  scattered.     What  a  meeting  there  will  be 
To  her  and  all  she  loved  here !  and  the  bloom 
Of  new  life  from  those  cheeks  shall  never  flee : 
Theirs  is  the  health  which  lasts  through  all  eternity. 


PEACE    IN   BELIEVING. 

HANNAH  F.  GOULD. 

Take  heed,  brethren,  lest  there  be  in  any  of  you  an  evil  heart  of  unbelief.- 
Hebrews  iii.  12. 

The  tree  that  yields  our  care  and  grief, 
Is  from  a  root  of  unbelief! 
The  pricking  thorns,  the  arrows  fierce, 
Our  spirit  and  our  flesh  to  pierce — 
The  grafts  that  spoil  our  vineyard's  fruit. 
Are  from  that  bitter  evil  root. 

The  branch  that  hangs  with  clustering  woes — 

The  flag-staff  of  the  prince  of  foes — 

The  tares  that  mar  our  golden  sheaf. 

All,  all  spring  up  from  unbelief: 

And  Hope,  the  victim  of  Despair, 

Points,  dying,  to  the  poison  there. 

But  in  Belief  we've  joy  and  peace. 
Of  faith  and  power  a  sweet  increase ; 


PEACE   IN    BELIEVING.  203 

From  burning  skies  a  cool  retreat, 
A  shelter  safe  when  tempests  beat — 
Fresh  balm  of  Gilead  for  our  grief — 
For  every  wound  a  healing  leaf. 

Belief  smooths  down  our  thorny  cares, 
With  shooting  grain  uproots  the  tares. 
Our  harp  from  off  the  willow  takes, 
And  every  chord  to  music  wakes. 
Till  Hope,  laid  icy  in  the  tomb. 
Springs  up  with  life  and  beauty's  bloom. 

When  night  comes  murky,  drear,  and  damp, 
Belief  will  feed  and  screen  our  lamp. 
Upon  our  feet  her  sandals  bind. 
About  our  waist  her  girdle  wind. 
Then,  lend  a  staff',  and  lead  the  way, 
'Till  we  walk  forth  to  beaming  day. 

When  all  the  fountains  of  the  deep 
Seem  broken  up  o'er  earth  to  sweep ; 
While  billowy  mountains  toss  our  bark. 
Belief's  the  dove,  from  out  the  ark. 
Across  the  flood  to  stretch  her  wing, 
And  home  the  branch  of  olive  brinor. 

Belief  hath  eyes  so  heavenly  bright. 
As  on  the  cloud  to  cast  their  light, 
'Till  fair  and  glorious  hues  shall  form 
From  drops  and  shades  that  robed  the  storm, 
Bent  o'er  our  world  in  peace,  to  show 
God's  covenant  sign,  his  unstrung  bow. 


204  PEACE   IN    BELIEVING. 

When  through  a  dry  and  thirsty  land 
The  pilgrim  treads  the  desert  sand, 
Belief  brings  distant  prospect  near, 
With  fruit,  and  bowers,  and  fountains  clear, 
Where,  when  he  strikes  his  tent,  he'll  be 
An  heir  of  immortality. 

While  unbelief  would  ever  bring 
A  chain  about  our  spirit's  wing. 
Belief  will  plume  it,  o'er  the  grave — 
Above  the  swell  of  Jordan's  wave — 
To  fly,  nor  droop,  'till  gently  furled 
In  that  sweet  home,  the  spirit-world ! 


THE   LIVES   OF   THE   APOSTLES. 


The  foundation  of  the  Prophets  and  the  Apostles  ;  Jesus  Christ  himself  being  the  chief  corner 
stone. — Ephesians  ii.  20. 


After  the  Ascension  of  the  Saviour,  we  find  the  disciples 
continuing  steadfast  in  faith,  waiting  for  the  promised  Com- 
forter. Doubtless  the  one  theme  of  their  conversation  was 
their  glorified  Master,  with  the  incidents  in  his  ministry ;  wonder 
increasing  upon  wonder,  and  testifying  that  this  was  indeed  the 
Son  of  God ;  until,  as  the  crowning  manifestation  of  His  divinity, 
they  had  seen  him  received  into  Heaven,  and  heard  from 
angels  clothed  in  light,  the  prophecy  that  in  like  manner  he 
should  come  again,  in  power  and  great  glory. 

Rude,  illiterate,  and  from  a  province  whose  unpolished 
dialect  betrayed  them ;  their  birthright  among  the  politer  Jews 
of  the  capital,  contempt ;  and  the  name  of  their  country  a  by- 
word,— what  could  these  Galileans  do?  They  had  drawn  all 
their  weight  of  character,  and  title  to  respect  from  the  com- 
panionship of  their  ascended  Saviour.  Of  this  prestige  they 
were  now  deprived.  Not  only  had  all  Jerusalem  witnessed  the 
Crucifixion,   but   the   ignominious  numbering   of  the   Son  of 

18 


206  THE   LIVES    OF    THE   APOSTLES. 

Man  among  transgressors,  had  taken  place  in  the  presence  of 
the  crowds  assembled  to  keep  the  Passover.  The  enemies  of 
Jesus  counted  the  downfall  of  his  faith  and  ministry  final  and 
complete — the  careless  and  indifferent  were  content  to  pass  the 
mission  of  Jesus  by,  as  though  it  had  never  been,  or  as  if  his 
death  upon  the  cross  were  an  effectual  answer  to  all  his 
miracles,  and  a  final  contradiction  to  all  his  claims.  Even  the 
faithful  few  said  in  despondency,  "  We  trusted  that  it  had  been 
he  who  should  have  redeemed  Israel ;"  feeling  ground  for  trust 
no  longer ;  and  the  risen  Saviour  found  it  necessary  to  upbraid 
the  chosen  twelve  with  their  hardness  of  heart  and  unbelief 

With  what  confidence  then  could  these  Galileans,  the  Apostles 
of  the  Crucified,  go  forward  to  proclaim  the  resurrection  of 
which  the  brethren  only  had  seen  the  evidences?  Or  how 
could  they  declare  the  greater  wonder  of  the  Ascension  into 
Heaven,  when,  to  the  glorious  privilege  of  witnessing  that  last 
miraculous  evidence  of  "  God  manifest  in  the  flesh,"  only  the 
immediate  followers  of  Jesus  had  been  admitted  1  While  they 
doubted  not  of  the  truth  and  wisdom  of  what  Jesus  had  said 
and  done,  from  the  hour  when  they  feared  to  ask  him  why  he 
spake  to  the  woman  of  Samaria,  to  the  day  when  a  cloud  re- 
ceived him  out  of  their  sight,  still  they  wist  not  how  they  were 
to  declare  these  things  unto  the  people. 

They  had  not  yet  received  the  Comforter,  which  should 
show  them  all  things.  They  did  not  yet  understand  the  spiritual 
nature  of  the  Kingdom  of  Heaven ;  nor,  perhaps,  did  they  con- 
sider that  the  carnal  perceptions  of  those  who,  before  Jesus 
was  crucified,  would  have  seized  him  to  make  him  a  king, 
would  have  led  them  into  still  more  gross  error  and  violent 
tumult,  had  he  "  whom  they  had  pierced,"  publicly  appeared 
among  them.     The  conditions  of  salvation,  "  He  that  believeth 


THE    LIVES    OF    THE    APOSTLES.  207 

and  is  baptized  shall  be  saved,"  would  have  been  infringed  upon, 
by  evidence  so  overwhelming  as  to  leave  faith  nothing  to  do. 
It  would  have  been  a  concession  to  the  unbelief  of  the  Jews, 
greater  than  those  which  Jesus  had  often  during  his  ministry 
refused  to  make,  to  "  an  evil  and  addterous  generation  seeking 
after  a  sign." 

Under  every  circumstance  of  discouragement  which  could 
have  appalled  the  worldly  mind ;  the  scoff  and  derision  of  the 
people  who  but  a  short  time  before  had  shouted  "  Hosanna  in 
the  highest !" — the  adherents  of  Him  to  whom  this  high  honour 
had  been  paid,  but  w^iose  faith  had  now  become  a  hissing  and 
a  reproach,  remembered  the  promise,  and  obeyed  the  command. 
They  continued  constant  in  prayer  and  supplication,  and  tarried 
in  Jerusalem,  waiting  the  endowment  with  power  from  on  high. 
They  filled  up,  by  the  election  of  Matthias,  the  place  in  the 
ranks  of  the  Twelve,  vacated  by  the  treachery  of  Judas,  and  in 
the  words  in  which  they  alluded  to  the  Apostate  in  their  prayer, 
and  in  their  after  silence  concerning  him,  have  left  a  lesson 
which  has  been  but  too  little  respected  by  the  followers  of  Him 
who  said,  "  Judge  not  that  ye  be  not  judged." 

The  day  of  Pentecost  was  signalized  by  a  miracle,  remark- 
able as  it  was  appropriate  and  efficient.  They  who  had  been 
directed  to  go  out  into  all  the  world  and  preach  the  Gospel, 
were  enabled  by  the  Holy  Spirit  to  converse  in  all  tongues, 
and  to  declare  in  all  languages  the  wonderful  works  of  God. 
The  Spirit  which  gave  them  utterance,  crowned  the  com- 
mencement of  their  mission  with  such  glorious  first-fruits,  that 
on  the  same  day,  there  were  added  to  the  church  about  three 
thousand  souls.  Now,  the  disciples  hesitated  no  longer  to  pro- 
claim the  wonders  of  which  they  had  been  witnesses,  and  the 
commission  which  they  had  received.   New  miracles  confirmed 


208  THE    LIVES    OF    THE    APOSTLES. 

their  power ;  and  as  the  people  had  heard  the  Master  gladly,  so 
did  the  disciples  find  favour  with  them.  But  the  rulers,  cut  to 
the  heart  at  the  discovery  that  their  persecution  and  crucifixion 
of  Jesus  availed  nothing,  and  that,  despite  the  command  that 
they  should  speak  no  more  "  in  this  name,"  the  disciples  only 
the  more  boldly  chose  to  obey  God  rather  than  man,  set  on 
foot  the  first  great  persecution  against  the  Apostles.  It  began 
in  the  death  of  Stephen,  the  first  martyr,  and  scattered  the 
heralds  of  the  cross  throughout  the  world,  every  where  bearing 
W'itness  of  the  wonders  they  had  seen,  and  carrying  the  glad 
tidings  of  the  Gospel  of  Peace.  In  a  former  part  of  this  volum.e 
we  have  harmonized  the  time  and  order  of  the  calling  of  the 
Apostles  ;  and  in  this  connexion  we  propose  to  present  the  most 
reliable  accounts  which  traditions,  and  the  early  ecclesiastical 
historians,  give  us  of  their  lives  and  death,  in  addition  to  what 
is  contained  in  the  Scriptures. 

Commencing  with  James  the  son  of  Zebedee  and  Salome, 
and  brother  of  John,  as  the  first  apostolic  martyr,  we  find  very 
little  recorded  of  him  after  the  ascension  of  Jesus.  During  the 
ministry  of  his  Master  upon  earth,  he  was  blessed  with  high 
tokens  of  love  and  approval,  being  admitted  with  Peter  and 
John,  to  witness  the  miracle  of  the  raising  of  the  daughter  of 
Jairus,  and  being  also  one  of  the  witnesses  of  the  transfigura- 
tion. It  is  probable  that  the  father,  Zebedee,  died  soon  after 
the  call  of  his  sons,  and  this  would  account  for  the  constant 
attendance  of  Salome  upon  Jesus  and  the  disciples.  From  the 
time  when  the  ambitious  mother  made  the  well-known  request 
to  Jesus,  for  her  sons,  we  find  no  record  of  James,  beyond  the 
mention  of  his  name,  until  his  death. 

Herod  Agrippa,  grandson  of  Herod  the  Great,  a  subtile  and 
politic  monarch, — a  double  courtier  to  the  Emperor  from  whom 


THE    LIVES    OF    THE    APOSTLES.  209 

he  held  power,  and  to  the  people  over  whom  he  exercised  it, 
upon  entering  upon  his  government,  was  anxious  to  do  some- 
thing to  ingratiate  himself  with  the  Jews ;  "  and  stretched  forth 
his  hands  to  vex  certain  of  the  Church,  and  killed  James,  the 
brother  of  John,  with  the  sword."  Such  is  the  brief  record 
which  the  sacred  historian  makes  of  the  death  of  the  Apostle. 
One  of  those  whom  Jesus  dignified  with  the  title  of  the  Sons  of 
Thunder,  it  was  undoubtedly  his  Christian  zeal  and  fearlessness 
which  made  him  the  mark  of  persecution,  and  we  are  espe- 
cially told  that  his  death  pleased  the  Jews.  His  was  the  first 
crown  of  apostolic  martyrdom,  his  death  taking  place  in  about 
thirteen  years  after  that  of  his  Great  Master.  Thus  was  the 
prophecy  of  Jesus  verified :  '  Ye  shall  drink  indeed  of  my  cup, 
and  be  baptized  with  the  baptism  that  I  am  baptized  with.' " 

James,  the  Son  of  Alpheus,  or  Cleophas,  we  take  next  in 
order,  as  he  also  suffered  martyrdom   in  Jerusalem.     He  is 
called  by  St.  Mark,  James  the  Little,  not  James  the  Less,  as  in 
our  version  it  is  rendered ;  nor  is  there  any  reason  to  suppose 
that  this  title,  though  given  him,  undoubtedly,  to  distinguish 
him  from  the  son  of  Zebedee,  was  intended  as  a  particular 
contrast  with  that  disciple.    The  title  James  the  Greater,  applied 
to  the  latter,  is  not  found  in  Scripture.     Matthew  and  Mark 
speak  of  him  as  one  of  the  brethren  of  Jesus ;  and  St.  Paul 
styles  him  "  James,  the  Brother  of  our  Lord."     What  was  the 
relationship  intended  by  the  word  brother,  has  been  the  subject 
of  much  inquiry,  one  hypothesis  making  him  the  son  of  Joseph 
by  a  former  wife ;  another  supposing  him  the  son  of  the  widow 
of  a  brother  of  Joseph,  according  to  the  Jewish  law,  which 
was  referred  to  in  the  case  presented  to  Jesus  by  the  Saddu- 
cees ;  and  others  presenting  still  different  solutions.     But  that 
generally  adopted,  and  most  consonant  with  the  fact  that  Jesus 

18* 


210  THE    LIVES    OF   THE   APOSTLES. 

committed  Mary  to  the  care  of  John,  is,  that  James  and  his 
brethren  were  not  brothers  of  Jesus  in  the  strict  sense  in  which 
we  use  the  word,  but  cousins,  or  other  kindred. 

Little  mention  is  made  of  James  in  the  Gospels.  St.  Paul,  in 
Corinthians  xv.  7,  speaks  of  a  particular  appearance  of  the 
Saviour  to  James,  after  the  resurrection ;  and  upon  this,  much 
honour  has  been  ascribed  to  him  by  ecclesiastical  writers ;  and 
the  character  which  has  been  handed  down  to  us  of  this  Apostle, 
would  indicate  him  one  every  way  worthy  of  the  divine  favour. 
He  was  the  great  leader  of  those  Jewish  Christians,  who  con- 
tended for  the  observance,  by  the  Jews,  of  the  law  of  Moses ; 
and  we  find  Peter  deferring  to  him  at  Antioch,  by  observance 
of  the  Levitical  law.  He  is  said,  by  early  w^'iters,  to  have 
been  a  strict  Nazarene,  drinking  neither  wine  nor  strong  drink ; 
and  the  legends  which  elevate  the  monastic  virtues  make  James 
the  Just,  as  he  was  termed,  an  example  to  all  devotees,  in  ex- 
treme self-denial. 

We  have  the  unquestionable  evidence  of  Luke's  narrative,  to 
the  high  character  and  influence  which  he  possessed  in  the 
Christian  Church.  In  the  council  of  the  disciples  to  whom  was 
submitted  the  great  question  relative  to  the  conformity  of  the 
Gentile  Christians  to  the  requirements  of  the  Jewish  law,  we 
find  (Acts  XV.  13-21)  James  delivering  the  opinion  upon  which 
the  circular  to  the  Gentiles  was  addressed,  releasing  them  from 
the  conformity  to  the  words  which  had  troubled  them  and  sub- 
verted their  souls.  The  Jewish  Christians,  as  we  have  before 
remarked,  he  was  not  ready  to  release  from  their  obligations 
to  observe  the  national  customs;  and  it  is  in  view  of  this  strong 
attachment  to  his  own  country,  that  we  may  most  admire  his 
Christian  tolerance  to  the  people  of  other  nations. 

His  prominence  and  authority  is  farther  shown  in  the  con- 


THE    LIVES    OF    THE   APOSTLES.  211 

duct  of  Peter,  both  in  the  deference  to  James  at  Corinth,  before 
alluded  to,  and  in  his  desiring  the  brethren  by  whom  he  was 
seen  after  his  miraculous  release  from  prison,  to  tell  James  and 
the  brethren.  Paul,  in  his  narratives  of  his  visits  to  Jerusalem, 
speaks  of  James,  Peter,  and  John,  as  "  pillars."  In  accordance 
with  the  direct  statements  of  Scripture,  and  with  the  unavoid- 
able inferences  from  all  mention  made  of  James  after  the  resur- 
rection, we  may  justly  conclude  him  to  have  been  for  more 
than  twenty-five  years  the  head  of  the  Christian  Church  in 
Jerusalem.  All  tradition,  and  all  reference  to  James  in  history, 
unite  in  this. 

The  closing  act  of  his  long  apostolic  life,  was  his  epistle  to 
the  Christians  among  the  twelve  tribes  scattered  abroad,  warn- 
ing them  of  the  end  of  the  Jewish  nation,  and  correcting  various 
errors  in  doctrine,  and  strongly  reprehending  evils  in  practice, 
which  marked  the  times  at  which  he  wrote.  For  a  quarter  of 
a  century  he  had  held  the  responsible  station  of  Apostle  in  Jeru- 
salem, having  not  only  the  respect  of  the  Christian  community, 
but  a  good  report  of  them  that  were  without.  Of  the  arduous 
responsibilities  of  such  a  station,  we  may  form  some  opinion, 
when  we  remember  that  the  twelve  Apostles,  and  the  other 
disciples  particularly  mentioned  in  Sacred  Writ,  were  in 
number  but  a  small  proportion  of  those  who  taught  in  the  name 
of  Jesus  ;  and  if  Paul  and  the  distinguished  brethren  whose  acts 
are  the  subject  of  the  sacred  penman,  duly  waited  upon  James 
for  counsel,  how  much  more  those  who  were  less  gifted  labour- 
ers in  the  Church. 

The  death  of  James  is  fixed  with  much  distinctness,  about 
the  year  of  the  Christian  era  60,  in  the  interregnum  between 
the  death  of  Festus,  and  the  arrival  of  his  successor.  Ananus, 
a  Sadducee,  having  been  appointed  High  Priest,  as  related  in 


212  THE    LIVES    OF   THE    APOSTLES. 

Josephus,  caused  the  arrest  of  James  and  other  Christians ; 
and,  after  their  condemnation,  they  were  stoned  to  death. 
Other  accounts  relate  that  he  was  thrown  from  the  top  of  the 
temple,  and,  that  life  with  this  violence,  being  still  not  extinct, 
he  employed  his  last  breath  in  praying  for  his  enemies ;  until 
his  persecutors  rushing  upon  him,  despatched  him  with  clubs 
and  stones.  Whatever  may  have  been  the  exact  circumstances 
of  his  martyrdom,  the  fact  rests  upon  unquestionable  evidence, 
that  he  sealed  his  long  and  unwav^ering  testimony  to  the  truth 
as  it  is  in  Jesus,  with  his  blood ;  nor  need  we  doubt  that  like 
his  Great  Master,  and  like  the  proto-martyr  Stephen,  he  re- 
membered in  his  last  prayers  the  Christian  precept  of  forgive- 
ness of  enemies. 

The  character  and  life  of  no  one  of  the  Apostles  has  more 
interested  the  Christian  world  in  all  ages,  than  that  of  Simon 
Peter.  His  individuality  is  so  strongly  marked,  that  in  every 
word  and  in  every  act,  we  recognise  this  most  earnest  and 
zealous  follower  of  Jesus.  His  impulsive  character  led  him 
into  occasional  errors,  after  which  his  repentance  was  most 
sincere,  and  from  which  his  return  was  always  whole-hearted  ; 
and  in  his  habitual,  disinterested  love  of  Jesus,  and  devotion  to 
his  cause,  we  find,  notwithstanding  his  readiness  in  action  and 
in  speech,  such  an  absence  of  ambition,  that  in  his  life  is  given 
the  best  example  of  the  Christian's  improvement  of  his  peni- 
tence, to  amendment.  He,  who  during  the  life  of  his  Lord 
declared,  that  though  all  others  should  forsake  him,  he  would 
not,  rebuked  and  chastened  by  his  fall,  has  left  us  the  most  con- 
vincing proof  of  his  subsequent  humility  of  spirit.  The  Gospel 
according  to  St.  Mark,  if  not  written,  as  has  been  supposed,  by 
the  dictation  of  Peter,  was  at  least  composed  under  his  eye, 
and  harmonized  with  the  Gospel,  which  the  Evangelist,  as  the 


THE    LIVES    OF    THE   APOSTLES.  213 

companion  of  the  Apostle,  heard  him  preach.  In  this  narrative 
the  humiUty  of  Peter  is  no  less  evident  than  is  that  of  John  in 
his  Gospel ;  in  Mark's  account  we  find  none  of  the  high  praises 
of  Peter,  which  are  rendered  to  that  Apostle  by  the  other 
Evangelists. 

Through  the  history  of  Jesus  we  trace  St.  Peter's  life  inti- 
mately connected  with  that  of  his  divine  Master.  After  the 
resurrection  we  find  Peter  readiest  in  faith,  and  in  obedience  to 
the  impulses  of  his  zealous  temperament,  receiving  marks  of 
high  honour  from  the  risen  Lord.  To  Peter,  it  would  appear 
from  Paul's  account,  (Corinthians  xv.,)  Jesus  appeared  before 
any  other  of  the  Disciples ;  and  the  touching  interview  between 
Jesus  and  the  repentant  denier  of  his  faith,  before  the  Ascen- 
sion, is  among  the  most  affecting  incidents  in  the  sacred 
volume,  so  simple  in  their  nature,  but  sublime  in  import ;  for  in 
the  command,  "  Feed  my  lambs,"  we  have  our  Lord's  last 
designation  of  the  mode  in  which  He  would  have  man's  love 
for  him  evinced ;  the  sum  of  Christian  love  and  obedience. 

Through  the  stirring  and  deeply  interesting  narrative  of  the 
Acts  of  the  Apostles,  Simon  Peter's  zeal  and  activity  are  con- 
spicuous on  every  page.  It  was  Peter  who  suggested  the  filling 
up  of  the  place  in  the  ministry  and  Apostleship,  from  which 
Judas  by  transgression  fell.  It  was  Peter,  who,  when  the  out- 
pourings of  the  Holy  Spirit  were  blasphemously  reviled  as  the 
effects  of  new  wine,  stood  up  with  the  eleven,  and  as  their 
organ  declared  Jesus  unto  the  multitude,  with  such  power  of 
utterance,  given  by  the  Spirit,  that  there  were  added  to  the 
Church  three  thousand  souls.  Peter  was  God's  instrument  in 
conferring  strength  upon  the  impotent  man ;  and  in  his  address 
to  the  people,  who  wondering  ran  together,  he  renewed  the 
bold  declarations  of  the  wonderful  works  of  God,  and  preached 


214  THE   LIVES    OF   THE   APOSTLES. 

through  Jesus,  the  resurrection  from  the  dead.  The  enemies 
of  Jesus,  amazed  at  the  reappearance  of  the  faith  among  the 
people  who  had  so  lately  followed  the  Holy  One  and  the  Just 
with  scoffings  and  contumely  to  a  shameful  death,  and  preferred 
a  murderer  before  the  Prince  of  Peace,  laid  hold  on  his  minis- 
ters Peter  and  John,  and  put  them  in  hold  :  howbeit,  says  the 
sacred  historian,  many  which  heard  the  word,  believed,  and 
the  number  of  the  men  was  about  five  thousand.  And  when 
the  two  Apostles  were  called  in  question,  Peter,  unabashed  now 
by  the  tribunal  before  which  he  had  denied  his  Lord,  pro- 
claimed that  the  stone  which  they  had  rejected  had  become 
the  head  of  the  corner.  Nor  was  John,  the  Son  of  Thunder, 
deficient;  for  the  council  took  notice  by  the  boldness  of  both  that 
they  had  been  with  Jesus ;  both  declared  their  duty  to  obey 
God  rather  than  man,  both  averred  that  they  could  not  but 
speak  the  things  which  they  had  seen  and  heard,  and  returned 
to  their  own  company  to  lift  up  their  voices  in  glory  to  God, 
for  that  which  was  done,  and  in  prayer  that  with  all  boldness 
they  might  continue  to  speak  His  word. 

The  performance  of  miracles,  the  preaching  of  the  Apostles, 
and  the  consequent  increase  of  the  Church,  provoked  the  Jewish 
rulers  to  lay  hold  a  second  time  on  the  Apostles ;  but  this  new 
attempt  to  bind  those  whom  Christ  had  made  free,  resulted  in 
a  new  and  astounding  miracle.  The  imprisoned  servants  of 
Christ,  set  at  liberty  by  the  angel  of  the  Lord,  were  found 
teaching  in  the  temple,  while  the  officers  of  the  Sanhedrim 
were  seeking  them  in  the  prison.  Brought  without  violence 
before  the  council,  Peter,  answering  for  the  rest,  again  thun- 
dered in  their  ears  the  name  of  Him  of  whom  least  of  all  they 
desired  to  hear — Jesus,  whom  God  exalted  with  his  right  hand 
to  be  a  Prince  and  a  Saviour.     Persuaded  by  the  calm  reason- 


THE   LIVES    OF   THE    APOSTLES.  215 

ing  of  Gamaliel,  and  awed  no  doubt  by  the  miracle  of  the 
release  of  their  prisoners,  the  Sanhedrim,  after  beating  the 
disciples,  and  again  charging  them  not  to  speak  in  the  name  of 
Jesus,  let  them  go. 

The  word  of  God  increased,  and  when  not  oi  ly  the  people, 
but  a  great  number  of  the  priests  believed  in  Jesus,  the  rulers, 
partly  by  official  proceedings,  but  more  by  malicious  stirring 
up  of  the  people,  procured  the  death  of  Stephen,  Saul,  a  pupil 
of  Gamahel,  consenting  to  his  death.  This  outbreak  of  popular 
fury  drove  many  of  the  active  ministers  of  the  Gospel  of  Christ 
from  Jerusalem,  and  wherever  they  went,  the  addition  of  souls 
to  the  church  followed  the  consistent  narrative  of  the  disciples 
concerning  those  things,  which  the  people,  returning  home  from 
the  feast,  had  bruited  abroad.  Peter  and  John  were  sent  by  the 
Apostles  to  perfect  the  work  so  happily  commenced;  and  in 
the  season  of  rest  which  followed  to  the  churches,  we  find  Peter 
passing  through  all  quarters  of  Judea,  Galilee,  and  Samaria, 
performing  miracles,  and  invoking  the  Holy  Ghost  upon  the 
believers. 

To  Peter  was  vouchsafed  the  vision,  the  lesson  of  which 
was,  that  "  God  is  no  respecter  of  persons ;  but  that  in  every 
nation,  he  that  feareth  him  and  worketh  righteousness  is  ac- 
cepted of  him."  To  the  Gentiles,  in  almost  the  snme  words  in 
which  he  had  declared  Him  to  the  Jews,  Peter  preached  Jesus, 
and  the  resurrection;  and  the  Holy  Ghost  fell  upon  his  auditors 
of  the  household,  kindred,  and  friends  of  Cornelius,  testifying 
that  God  had  granted  to  the  Gentiles  also  repentance  unto  life. 
Upon  Peter's  next  visit  to  Jerusalem,  having  been  called  in 
question  by  the  Apostles  and  brethren  there,  for  his  intercourse 
with  the  Gentiles,  he  recited  the  circumstances  of  the  conversion 


216  THE    LIVES    OF    THE   APOSTLES. 

of  Cornelius ;  which,  when  the  disciples  heard,  they  ceased  their 
objections,  and  glorified  God  for  the  salvation  of  the  Gentiles. 

After  this  event  an  interval  occurs  in  the  narrative  of  the 
Acts  of  the  Apostles,  as  related  by  St.  Luke.  We  read  that 
Agabus  predicted  a  famine,  which  should  take  place  in  the  days 
of  Claudius  Ca3sar ;  and  in  Josephus  and  other  authorities,  the 
famine  is  mentioned  in  much  detail  on  account  of  its  severity. 
How  long  before  the  occurrence  of  the  dearth,  the  prediction 
of  Agabus  was  uttered,  is  not  fixed ;  but  sufficient  time  elapsed 
for  the  brethren  in  Antioch,  where  Agabus  made  his  prediction, 
to  collect  and  send  relief  to  the  brethren  in  Judea.  The  famine, 
and  the  accession  of  Herod,  occurred  from  ten  to  thirteen  years 
after  the  crucifixion.  Up  to  this  time  the  Apostles  had  been 
diligently  labouring,  and  during  much  of  it  in  quiet,  for  the  es- 
tablishment of  the  Gospel.  The  sister  churches  had  been  so 
built  up  and  edified,  that  they  were  able,  as  in  the  case  of  An- 
tioch, to  minister  in  all  good  things  to  the  brethren  in  Judea. 

Upon  the  accession  of  Herod,  or  about  that  time,  as  related 
in  the  life  of  James,  the  brother  of  John,  Herod  strove  to 
win  favour  with  the  Jews  by  the  murder  of  James  and  of 
Peter.  The  miraculous  escape  of  Peter  is  circumstantially 
and  with  the  beautiful  eloquence  of  simplicity  described  by  the 
sacred  historian.  What  concealment  Peter  sought,  or  where 
was  the  place  to  which  he  went,  after  declaring  to  the  dis- 
ciples in  the  house  of  John  what  the  angel  of  the  Lord  had 
done  for  him,  is  not  related  to  us.  The  next  mention  of  Peter 
in  Luke's  narrative,  is  his  presence  at  the  council  at  which  the 
letter  to  the  Gentile  Christians  was  authorized.  This  would 
leave  an  interval  between  his  escape  from  Herod  and  the 
record  of  his  reappearance  in  Jerusalem,  of  from  five  to  seven 


THE    LIVES    OF    THE    APOSTLES.  217 

years ;  his  persecutor  having  in  the  mean  time  been  called  sud- 
denly and  terribly  to  his  last  account,  while  receiving  the  flat- 
tery and  worship  of  his  servile  courtiers. 

After  the  council  we  find  no  farther  allusion  to  Peter  in  Luke's 
narrative.  Paul,  in  his  epistle  to  the  Galatians,  second  chapter, 
speaks  of  a  difference  between  himself  and  Peter,  at  Antioch ; 
from  which  we  gather  that  Peter,  who,  before  the  arrival  of 
certain  Jewish  disciples,  sent  by  James,  "did  eat  with  the 
Gentiles,"  after  these  brethren  came  from  Jerusalem,  "  sepa- 
rated himself,"  conforming  to  the  Jewish  ritual  in  relation  to 
social  intercourse.  This  was  a  difference  of  opinion  upon 
questions  of  expediency  in  minor  matters.  Peter,  in  his  second 
epistle,  speaks  of  our  "  beloved  brother  Paul ;"  and  when  he 
refers  to  certain  passages  in  Paul's  epistles,  which  the  unlearned 
and  unstable  wrest  to  their  own  destruction,  he  does  it  with  the 
considerate  qualification,  "  as  they  do  also  other  scriptures," 
thus  relieving  the  writings  of  his  great  co-labourer  from  pecu- 
liarity in  this  respect. 

The  most  generally  received  opinion  is,  that  Peter  suffered 
martyrdom  at  Rome,  in  the  year  66  or  67,  during  the  persecu- 
tions of  the  Christians  under  Nero.  It  is  said,  also,  that  he  was 
crucified  with  his  head  downward,  choosing  this  posture  as  one 
unworthy  to  die  in  the  same  way  with  the  Lord,  whom  he  once 
denied.  So  consonant  is  this  with  the  character  of  Peter,  that, 
in  the  absence  of  any  tradition  to  the  contrary,  we  are  inclined 
to  receive  it.  There  are  those  who  deny  that  Peter  ever  was 
in  Rome;  but  learned  men,  both  Protestant  and  Roman  Catholic, 
have  admitted  the  tradition  of  his  death,  which  we  have  given 
above.  His  martyrdom,  predicted  by  Jesus  at  the  last  inter- 
view before  his  ascension,  must  have  been  looked  for  by  the 
Church,  to  whom  he  was  universally  known;  and  where  all 

19 


218  THE    LIVES    OF    THE   APOSTLES. 

tradition  points  to  one  place  as  the  scene  of  the  fulfilment  of  the 
prophecy,  the  death  at  Rome  can  only  be  evaded  by  denying, 
as  some  have  done,  that  he  suffered  a  violent  death  at  all.  The 
establishment  of  this  hypothesis  involves  an  explanation  of  the 
prophecy  little  in  keeping  with  the  comment  which  John  makes 
upon  w  hat  the  Saviour  said  to  Peter :  "  Another,"  said  Jesus, 
"  shall  carry  thee  whither  thou  wouldest  not ;"  and  the  Evan- 
gelist adds  in  explanation,  "  This  spake  he,  signifying  by  what 
death  he  should  glorify  God." 

The  long  apostleship  of  Peter,  left  him  ample  time  to  visit 
the  Christian  communities,  wherever  then  founded.  Tradition 
is  voluminous  upon  his  journeys;  and  if  we  cannot  reconcile  all 
the  narratives  of  his  travels,  we  can  at  least  accept  these  efforts 
to  give  the  honour  of  so  many  foundations  to  Peter,  as  evi- 
dences of  his  untiring  activity.  His  epistles,  addressed  to 
Christians  of  whom  he  seems  to  have  had  previous  knowledge, 
are  proofs  of  his  apostolic  industry ;  and  his  acquaintance  with 
the  writings  of  Paul,  shows  a  knowledge  of  the  churches  with 
which  that  Apostle  was  in  correspondence.  The  two  epistles 
of  Peter  are  written  in  a  style  strongly  characteristic  of  what 
we  know  of  the  character  of  the  Apostle,  and  of  the  mode  of 
his  address.  He  speaks  boldly  as  a  witness  of  the  truths  rela- 
tive to  Jesus,  his  transfiguration,  death  as  an  atonement,  his 
resurrection,  and  ascension ;  he  appeals  to  those  whom  he 
addressed,  by  Christ's  sufferings,  to  "  arm  them  likewise  with 
the  same  mind,"  and  quotes  passages  of  the  early  prophets 
who,  we  find  in  his  recorded  speeches,  were  favourites  with 
him.  There  is  in  the  epistles  as  in  the  speeches  the  same  fear- 
less directness  and  strong  rebuke,  which  should  lead  men  to 
inquire,  "  What  shall  we  do  ?"  Paul  and  Peter  were  not  more 
dissimilar  in  their  personal  character  and  early  mode  of  life 


THE    LIVES    OF   THE   APOSTLES.  219 

and  training,  tlian  are  their  epistles  in  style  and  manner.  The 
Galilean,  and  the  accomplished  logician  and  scholar,  each  speaks 
for  himself.  Peter,  who  knew  and  felt  the  weight  of  the  testi- 
mony which  his  astonished  senses  had  borne  to  the  miracles, 
the  transfiguration,  the  death,  the  resm-rection  and  ascension  of 
Jesus  of  Nazareth,  stuns  his  readers,  as  on  the  day  of  Pentecost 
he  did  his  hearers,  with  the  plain  and  unhesitating  testimony  of 
one  who  announced  himself  as  "  a  witness  of  the  sufferings  of 
Christ ;"  and  he  applies  the  promises  to  those  who  should  lay 
hold  on  them,  with  the  confidence  of  one  who  felt  and  an- 
nounced himself  as  "  also  a  partaker  of  the  glory  that  shall  be 
revealed."  Paul,  on  the  other  hand,  who  had  received  those 
great  truths  upon  evidence,  like  an  eloquent  advocate  propounds 
them  with  the  calm  and  systematic  clearness  of  a  man  fully 
possessed  with  his  subject ;  and  afterwards  rises  into  the  zealous 
joy  of  a  full  and  hearty  believer ;  but  still  he  speaks  not  as  a 
witness,  except  in  the  glowing  accounts  of  his  own  wonderful 
conversion. 

The  dates  of  the  two  epistles  of  Peter  are  variously  placed. 
From  the  allusions  which  they  contain  to  the  persecutions 
which  afflicted  Christians,  to  the  approaching  coming  of  Christ 
in  judgment,  in  the  destruction  of  the  Jewish  state,  and  to  the 
nearness  of  his  own  death,  it  is  evident  that  these  letters  were 
written  toward  the  close  of  his  life.  If  w^e  say  that  the  epistles 
were  written  after  the  year  60,  it  is  probably  as  near  an  ap- 
proximation to  the  time  as  we  can  obtain.  The  first  was 
written  from  Babylon;  but  whether  ancient  Babylon,  Seleucia, 
to  which  the  name  of  modern  Babylon  was  given,  or  Babylon 
near  Memphis,  in  Egypt,  is  the  place  referred  to,  there  has 
been  dispute.    Olhers  consider  Babylon  as  applied  in  a  mystical 


220  THE    LIVES    OF    THE    APOSTLES. 

sense  by  Peter,  to  Rome,  as  John  does  in  the  Apocalypse ;  but 
there  surely  would  appear  no  need  of  this  forced  explanation. 

Some  description  of  the  personal  appearance  of  Peter,  as 
tradition  has  handed  it  down,  will  be  deemed  interesting.  It  is 
said  by  Nicephorus  that  in  stature  he  was  slender  and  rather 
tall,  his  complexion  pale,  and  his  hair  short,  curled  and  thick, 
his  eyes  black,  his  eyebrows  thin,  and  his  nose  long,  but  not 
sharp.  Altogether,  his  appearance  commanded  reverence  and 
respect.  To  read  his  history  is  to  read  his  simple  and  undis- 
guised character ;  and  while  he  is  one  of  those  who  most  com- 
mands Christian  admiration,  he  is  at  the  same  time  the  object 
of  more  human  sympathy  than  any  other  of  the  Twelve. 

Of  Andrew,  the  brother  of  Simon  Peter,  we  have  little  men- 
tion in  the  Scriptures.  The  circumstances  of  his  call,  spoken 
of  in  another  part  of  this  book,  are  highly  interesting,  as 
developing  such  a  character  as  the  Christian  should  possess. 
He  was  one  of  the  disciples  present  when  Jesus  sat  on  the 
Mount  of  Olives,  and  predicted  the  destruction  of  the  Temple, 
but  beside  this  fact,  and  the  mention  of  a  remark  made  by  him 
to  Jesus,  at  the  feeding  of  the  five  thousand,  there  is  nothing 
recorded  of  him,  except  what  is  said  generally  of  all  the  dis- 
ciples. His  name  appears  in  the  list  of  the  disciples  given  in 
the  Acts,  and  after  that  does  not  again  occur. 

The  legend  is  that  he  suffered  crucifixion  in  the  northwestern 
part  of  Achaia,  by  order  of  the  Roman  Proconsul  of  that  pro- 
vince ;  and  that  the  form  of  the  cross  was  that  of  the  letter  X. 
This  is  said  to  have  taken  place  during  a  general  persecution 
of  the  Christians,  by  the  Proconsul,  and  the  motive  for  Andrew's 
murder  was,  that  his  preaching  had  converted  the  wife  and 
brother  of  the  Roman  officer ;  and  thus  placed  in  the  family  of 
the  tyrant,  monitors  who  warned  him  of  his  wickedness. 


THE    LIVES    OF   THE   APOSTLES.  221 

It  is  considered  well  established  that  the  field  of  labour  upon 
which  Andrew  first  entered  was  Scythia.  From  the  brotherly 
attachment  which  existed  between  him  and  Peter,  it  is  not  un- 
likely that  they  were  much  together  during  the  period  in  their 
lives  of  which  no  historical  account  is  preserved.  That  the 
legends  which  ascribe  miracles  to  Andrew  had  their  origin  in 
truth,  there  can  be  no  doubt,  when  we  reflect  upon  the  parting 
words  of  Jesus,  and  the  power  which  he  conferred  upon  his 
disciples  to  heal  all  diseases ;  and  the  best  test  of  the  probability 
of  any  miraculous  legend  is,  to  compare  the  events  which  it 
purports  to  narrate,  with  the  miracles  which  are  given  as  in 
the  sacred  canon.  That  the  Apostles  were  each  somewhere 
employed  in  their  great  work,  is  certain,  else  would  some  traces 
of  their  defection  have  been  preserved  by  the  vigilant  enemies 
of  the  faith.  That  Andrew  suffered  on  the  cross,  is  borne  out 
by  the  probability  of  analogy ;  and  the  cause  of  the  Proconsul's 
anger  is  one  which  has  been  a  too  common  origin  of  hatred 
against  Christians  since,  to  permit  us  to  discredit  it  upon  its 
general  probability,  whether  strictly  true  of  Andrew  or  not. 

PmLip,  the  friend  of  Nathanael,  is  another  of  the  Twelve  of 
whom  very  little  is  said  in  the  Gospels,  and  nothing  in  the  Acts, 
except  that  he  was  present  in  the  chamber  with  the  Twelve. 
He  has  been  much  confounded  with  Philip  the  deacon,  in  the 
traditions  and  legends,  and  the  error  has  given  rise  to  a  gi-eat 
deal  of  uncertainty.  Tradition  makes  his  field  of  labour,  like 
that  of  Andrew,  Scythia.  The  mode  and  time  of  his  death  are 
uncertain,  although  it  is  said  to  have  occurred  at  Hierapolis,  in 
Phrygia,  either  by  crucifixion,  or  being  hanged  against  a  pillar. 

Of  Bartholomew,  or  Nathanael,  it  is  said  that  upon  the  dis- 
persion of  the  disciples  he  went  to  Arabia  Felix,  and  preached 
there  until  his  death.     A  tradition  was  current  as  early  as  the 

19* 


222  THE    LIVES    OF   THE   APOSTLES. 

second  century  in  that  country,  that  he  there  proclaimed  the 
doctrines  of  Jesus ;  and  a  copy  of  the  Gospel  of  Matthew,  in 
Hebrew,  found  in  Arabia,  was  said  to  have  been  left  among 
his  hearers  by  Bartholomew.  Upon  the  manner  of  his  death, 
great  uncertainty  rests  ;  he  is  said  to  have  been  murdered  under 
revolting  circumstances  of  cruelty,  being  first  flayed  alive,  at 
Urbanopolis,  in  Greater  Armenia  ;  having  been  a  witness  of 
the  execution  of  Philip,  at  Hierapolis,  and  procured  the  decent 
interment  of  his  early  friend.  Great  doubt  rests  upon  most  of 
the  traditionary  details  relative  to  all  the  Apostles ;  but  the  re- 
marks made  under  the  head  of  the  Apostle  Andrew,  will  apply 
to  the  traditions  relative  to  all. 

Thomas,  called  Didymus,  undoubtedly  proclaimed  the  Gospel 
of  Christ  in  the  remote  parts  of  Asia.  Traces  of  this  fact  are 
too  many  to  admit  of  any  reasonable  doubt.  There  has  existed 
in  India,  from  a  very  early  period,  a  large  body  of  Christians, 
who  give  themselv^es  the  name  of  St.  Thomas's  Christians,  and 
upon  the  first  arrival  of  the  Portuguese  discoverers  in  that 
country,  they  found  them  there  in  large  numbers.  It  is  said  of 
him  that  his  manner  of  teaching  was  calm  and  gentle,  winning 
converts  by  patience  and  long  suffering ;  a  tradition  we  are 
fain  to  believe,  as  related  of  one  who,  remembering  his  own 
incredulity  until  he  had  seen,  should  have  been  disposed  to  deal 
kindly  with  those  whom  he  called  upon  to  believe  in  Him  whom 
they  had  not  seen.  The  Portuguese  travellers  say  that  they 
were  informed  by  these  native  Christians,  that  Thomas  suffered 
death  by  a  Brahmin's  lance,  while  kneeling  in  prayer  at  Cala- 
mina,  now  called  Malipur,  in  India;  and  in  honour  of  him  the 
place  was  called  by  its  European  masters,  St.  Thomas. 

Nothing  is  recorded  of  Matthew,  otherwise  called  Levi,  in 
the  new  Testament,  after  the  circumstances  of  his  call,  and  the 


THE    LIVES    OF   THE   APOSTLES.  223 

feast  with  which  he  testified  his  joy  at  the  summons  to  relinquish 
his  gainful  calling,  and  become  the  follower  of  Jesus  of  Naza- 
reth. It  is  supposed  that  he  remained  in  Judea  eight  or  ten 
years  after  the  Ascension ;  and  then  went  to  preach  the  Gospel 
in  Ethiopia,  Panhia,  and  Persia.  He  is  said  to  have  suffered 
martyrdom,  some  accounts  mentioning  Ethiopia,  and  others 
Parthia  as  the  scene  of  his  death,  while  another  opinion  is,  that 
he  died  in  peace. 

The  most  interesting  fact  in  the  life  of  Matthew,  is  his  author- 
ship of  the  Gospel  which  bears  his  name,  and  which  has  been 
from  the  earliest  Christian  antiquity  ascribed  to  him,  both  by 
friends  and  foes.  The  time  at  which  it  was  written,  can  only 
be  fixed  by  internal  evidences.  Some  of  the  best  authorities 
unite  in  placing  the  time  of  its  production  at  or  about  the  year 
37 ;  while  others  of  critical  weight,  give  as  the  probable  date 
61,  or  even  a  later  year.  To  compress  the  various  arguments, 
based  on  expressions,  allusions,  and  omissions  in  the  Gospel, 
into  the  space  of  this  notice,  would  be  impossible.  There  is 
also  a  dispute  whether  Matthew  originally  wrote  in  the  Hebrew 
of  that  day,  or  in  Greek.  There  is  positive  testimony  to  the 
first;  and  yet  the  Greek  version  possesses  all  the  marks  of 
originality,  and  no  traces  of  being  a  translation.  Whitby  and 
some  other  commentators  adopt  the  opinion  that  Matthew  wrote 
both  in  Hebrew  and  in  Greek,  as  Josephus  wrote  his  History  of 
the  Jewish  War;  a  supposition,  which,  if  allowable,  reconciles 
all  ditficulties.  Those  who  hold  this  opinion  assign  a  much 
later  date  to  the  Greek  than  to  the  Hebrew  version.  The 
Hebrew  version  fell  early  into  discredit — partly  on  account  of 
corruptions,  interpolations,  and  omissions,  made  by  sects  of 
Jewish  Christians,  and  partly  from  the  fact  that  the  Jewish 
dialect,  after  the  fall  of  Jerusalem,  passed  into  disuse.     What- 


224  THE    LIVES    OF    THE   APOSTLES. 

ever  theory  we  adopt,  the  testimonies  to  the  authenticity  and 
genuineness  of  the  Greek  copy,  are  most  satisfactory  and  abun- 
dant :  and  the  character  of  the  work,  in  every  particular,  proves 
that  it  was  first  written  for  the  support  and  encouragement  of 
Jewish  Christians.  In  this  w^ork,  as  in  the  other  Gospels  by 
Mark,  the  friend  of  Peter,  and  John  the  beloved  disciple,  we 
trace  that  humility  which  is  ever  the  characteristic  of  the  true 
Christian.  In  the  lists  of  the  Apostles,  Matthew  places  Thomas 
first,  and  designates  himself  as  Matthew  the  publican,  while 
Mark  and  Luke  reverse  this  order,  and  say  nothing  of  his 
former  calling. 

Simon  Zelotes  was  probably  the  brother  of  James  and  of 
Jude,  though  there  is  no  evidence  of  such  a  fact,  other  than 
that  we  find  the  three  other  brothers  all  mentioned  as  followers 
of  Jesus,  James  and  Jude  as  Apostles,  and  Joses  as  one  of  those 
who  were  assembled  after  the  Ascension.  In  the  apostolic 
lists  the  name  of  Simon  occurs  between  that  of  James  and  Jude. 
The  title  of  Zelotes  was  sufficient  to  distinguish  this  Apostle 
from  Simon  Peter.  It  is  worthy  of  notice  that  Luke,  in  calling 
Simon  Zelotes,  does  but  translate  into  Greek  the  Hebrew  word 
which  in  our  English  version  has  been  erroneously  rendered  to 
mark  his  birthplace,  instead  of  his  character.  Cananite  comes 
from  a  word  signifying  zeal ;  and  the  change  to  (>anaanite  in 
the  modern  versions  is  shown  by  critics  to  have  been  an  error. 
Of  the  life  of  Simon  we  have  no  reliable  account.  Some  tradi- 
tions not  improbably  connect  his  journeyings  with  his  brother 
Jude ;  others  carry  him  to  Britain,  and  make  him  sufler  mar- 
tyrdom there. 

Matthias,  elected  to  the  place  from  which  Judas  Iscariot  by 
transgression  fell,  is  not  afterwards  mentioned  by  the  inspired 
historian.     From  the  address  of  Peter  we  gather  that  he  was 


THE    LIVES    OF   THE   APOSTLES.  225 

one  of  the  witnesses  of  the  ministry  of  Jesus  from  the  beginning ; 
and  the  divine  approval  of  his  election  leaves  no  doubt  that  the 
place  to  which  he  was  elevated  by  the  Eleven  was  well  and 
faithfully  filled. 

JuDE,  otherwise  called  Lebbeus  and  Thaddeus,  was  the  brother 
of  James  the  son  of  Alpheus,  whose  affinity  to  Jesus  has  been 
spoken  of.  He  is  only  mentioned  in  the  Gospels  as  inquiring 
before  the  crucifixion,  "  Lord,  how  wilt  thou  manifest  thyself 
unto  us,  and  not  unto  the  world '("  In  the  Acts  we  find  him 
sent  with  Silas  to  the  Church  of  Antioch,  after  the  session  of 
the  Apostolic  Council.  He  appears  after  the  Ascension  to  have 
travelled  eastward.  The  manner  of  his  death  is  uncertain, 
though  he  is  said  to  have  suffered  martyrdom  in  Syria.  He 
has  left  an  epistle,  the  date  of  which  is  variously  assigned  from 
the  year  66  to  72.  It  was  written  toward  the  close  of  the  life 
of  Jude,  and  was  intended  to  guard  Christians  against  certain 
false  teachers  who  had  crept  into  the  church.  The  language 
is  animated  and  vehement,  and  indicative  of  earnest  feeling.  It 
is  remarkable  that  Jude  in  this  epistle  refers  in  two  places  to 
traditions  of  the  Jews,  or  to  apocryphal  books,  which  are  no 
where  else  mentioned  in  the  canonical  scriptures.  This  use  of 
Jewish  legends  as  illustrations,  however,  as  has  been  well  re- 
marked, is  as  natural  and  allowable  in  Jude,  as  the  quotation 
of  the  Greek  poets  was  in  Paul ;  nor  need  we  to  draw  an 
inference  relative  to  the  authenticity  of  the  Jewish  traditions 
from  Jude,  any  more  than  to  canonize  the  Greek  poets  whom 
Paul  quotes. 

John,  the  son  of  Zebedee,  the  disciple  whom  Jesus  loved, 
was  the  youngest  of  the  Twelve,  and  survived  them  all.  With 
the  events  of  his  life,  as  recorded  in  the  Gospels,  the  reader  is 
familiar,  connected  as  they  were  with  the  most  interesting 


226  THE   LIVES    OF   THE   APOSTLES. 

passages  in  the  ministry  of  the  Son  of  Man.  He  was  the  com- 
panion of  Peter  when  the  miracle  of  conferring  strength  upon 
the  lame  man  was  performed ;  and  was  deputed  with  that  dis- 
ciple to  visit  the  new  converts  in  Samaria.  After  this  time  the 
Scripture  history  is  silent  respecting  him  ;  but  Paul,  in  speaking 
to  the  Galatians  of  his  second  visit  to  Rome,  fourteen  years 
after  his  conversion,  speaks  of  John  as  then  in  that  city.  John, 
like  James,  while  he  was  an  advocate  for  the  release  of  the 
Gentiles  from  the  ceremonies  of  the  Jewish  law,  or,  w^e  should 
rather  say,  opposed  the  imposition  of  it  upon  them,  remained 
through  his  own  life  an  observer  of  the  customs  of  his  fathers. 

The  time  of  the  final  departure  of  John  from  Jerusalem  is 
uncertain ;  and  is  by  many  placed  a  few  years  before  the  de- 
struction of  Jerusalem,  when  they  saw  the  signs  described  by 
Jesus  that  "  the  desolation  thereof  was  nigh."  But  there  is  no 
reason  to  suppose  that  during  this  residence  he  never  went  forth 
from  the  city.  Indeed  John's  mission  to  Samaria,  recorded  in 
the  Acts,  and  the  errands  of  comfort  upon  which  other  disciples 
were  sent,  the  visits  of  Paul  to  Jerusalem,  and  the  friendly 
intercourse  of  good  offices  between  the  brethren  there  and  the 
sister  churches,  give  colour  to  the  voluminous  traditions  of  the 
visits  of  the  twelve  Apostles  to  widely  distant  and  different 
points.  We  may  be  sure  that  the  command  to  "  go  into  all  the 
world,  and  preach  the  Gospel  to  every  creature,"  was  not 
negligently  held,  and  that  the  witnesses  of  the  "  wonderful 
works  of  God"  did  not  permit  to  remain  unimproved  the  mi- 
raculous talent  which  was  conferred  upon  them  by  the  descent 
of  the  Holy  Ghost. 

There  are  traces  of  tradition,  that  John  went  as  far  east  as 
India ;  and  the  circumstance  is  not  in  itself  at  all  improbable. 
The  latter  years  of  his  life,  before  and  after  his  banishment  to 


THE   LIVES    OF    THE   APOSTLES.  227 

Patmos,  were  spent  in  Ephesus ;  a  city  which  possessed  many 
claims  upon  his  affection  and  upon  his  judgment,  as  a  resi- 
dence. Considered  in  the  first  regard,  it  would  have  a  strong 
hold  upon  him  as  the  refuge  of  a  vast  number  of  his  country- 
men ;  and  in  the  second,  as  the  metropolis  of  Asia  Minor,  and 
a  great  commercial  city,  eligibly  situated  upon  the  Mediter- 
ranean Sea,  it  was  easily  accessible  to  the  different  Christian 
communities,  who  looked  with  a  veneration  approaching  to 
awe,  upon  the  last  of  the  immediate  followers  of  Jesus.  So 
much  was  he  an  object  of  personal  interest,  that  in  his  Gospel 
he  found  it  necessary  to  contradict  an  impression  that  had  gone 
abroad,  that  he  should  never  die. 

The  length  of  time  during  which  the  banishment  of  John  to 
the  Island  of  Patmos  lasted,  is  not  ascertained.  He  was  exiled 
during  the  latter  part  of  the  reign  of  Domitian,  and  returned  to 
Ephesus,  under  the  general  decree  of  Nerva,  in  or  about  the 
year  96.  He  lived  after  his  return  to  Ephesus,  from  four  to  six 
years,  and  died  at  the  advanced  age  of  nearly  or  quite  a  cen- 
tury. It  is  related  of  him  that  when  the  infirmities  of  age  had 
so  far  mastered  his  strength  that  he  could  no  longer  preach,  he 
caused  himself  to  be  carried  into  the  Christian  assemblies,  and 
exhorted  the  believers  in  short  sentences ;  the  most  frequently 
uttered  of  which  was,  the  injunction,  "  Little  children,  love  one 
another." 

Various  dates  are  assigned  to  the  writing  of  his  Gospel,  some 
placing  it  as  early  as  68,  others  at  70,  and  others  at  76  and  79. 
One  design  of  the  Gospel  by  St.  John,  was,  to  combat  the 
heresies  of  Cerinthus,  and  the  Nicolaitans,  who  had  corrupted 
the  pure  and  simple  teachings  of  the  Apostles,  with  the  mysti- 
cism of  the  East.  The  account  which  John  gives  of  the  Saviour, 
refers  more  to  his  person,  office,  and  character,  than  to  his 


228  THE    LIVES    OF    THE   APOSTLES. 

miracles.  The  Gospel  by  John,  has  been  universally  received 
as  genuine ;  and  testimonies  to  its  authenticity  are  preserved 
from  the  contemporaries  of  the  Apostle,  through  all  the  wri- 
ters of  the  ancient  Christian  Church.  Doubt  as  to  date  exists 
concerning  the  Epistles,  as  well  as  the  Gospel  of  John ;  and 
one  supposition  is,  that  the  first  Epistle  was  intended  as  a 
preface  or  companion  to  the  Gospel.  In  expressions,  senti- 
ments, and  style,  its  similarity  amounts  in  some  instances  to 
identity.  The  Revelation  of  St.  John  was  probably  written 
during  his  banishment  to  Patmos,  although  there  are  many  able 
critics  who  contend  that  it  was  not  written  until  after  his  return 
to  Ephesus. 

Wherever  and  whenever  written,  the  books  which  form  our 
sacred  canon,  independent  of  their  claims  upon  us  in  reference 
to  things  and  interests  spiritual  and  eternal,  are  of  a  higher 
consequence,  and  a  deeper  interest,  tried  by  the  rules  by  which 
merely  human  works  are  judged,  than  any  other.  No  poetry 
exceeds  them  in  sublimity — no  morality  approaches  them  in 
purity;  and  while  on  the  one  hand  they  embrace  mysteries 
into  which  angels  cannot  look,  on  the  other  they  contain  all 
that  is  necessary  for  the  salvation  of  the  lowliest  disciple  whom 
Jesus  loves. 


BLESSED    ARE    THE    DEAD. 

HENRY    W.    LONGFELLOW. 
FROM    THE    GERMAN    OF    SIMON    DACK. 

And  I  heard  a  voice  from  heaven  saying  unto  me,  Write,  Blessed  are  the  dead  which  die 
ia  the  Lord  from  henceforth;  Yea,  saith  the  Spirit  that  they  may  rest  from  their  labours; 
and  their  works  do  follow  them. — Rev.  xiv.  13. 

Oh,  how  blessed  are  ye  whose  toils  are  ended ! 
Who,  through  death,  have  unto  God  ascended  ! 

Ye  have  arisen 
From  the  cares  which  keep  us  still  in  prison. 

We  are  still  as  in  a  dungeon  living, 

Still  oppressed  with  sorrow  and  misgiving ; 

Our  undertakings 
Are  but  toils,  and  troubles,  and  heart-breakings. 

Christ  has  wiped  away  your  tears  for  ever  ; 
Ye  have  that  for  which  we  still  endeavour ; 

To  you  are  chaunted 
Songs  which  yet  no  mortal  ear  have  haunted. 
20 


230  BLESSED  ARE  THE  DEAD. 

Ah !  who  would  not,  then,  depart  with  gladness, 
To  inherit  heaven  for  earihly  sadness  1 

Who  here  would  languish 
liOnger  in  bewailing  and  in  anguish  ? 

Come,  oh  Christ,  and  loose  the  chains  that  bind  us 
Lead  us  forth,  and  cast  this  world  behind  us ! 

With  thee,  the  Anointed, 
Finds  the  soul  its  joy  and  rest  appointed. 


THE    APOSTLE    PAUL. 

And  last  of  all  he  was  seen  of  me  also,  as  of  one  born  out  of  due  time.— 1  Cor.  xv.  8. 

The  conversion  and  apostolic  life  and  labours  of  St.  Paul, 
while  they  contribute  a  most  deeply  interesting  portion  to 
Christian  history  and  sacred  literature,  furnish  at  the  same 
time  a  series  of  unanswerable  proofs  of  the  divine  origin  ot 
Christianity.  In  the  ordinary  matters  of  history — or,  to  express 
the  idea  in  other  words — in  subjects  where  scoffers  are  not 
predetermined  to  deny,  the  single  life  of  St.  Paul,  and  his 
works,  would  be  deemed  sufficient  to  verify  all  the  facts  which 
he  cites,  and  all  the  history  upon  which  he  bases  his  arguments. 
No  great  events  of  ancient  history  rest  upon  testimony  so  clear 
and  coherent.  While  we  may  say,  of  the  whole  of  the  con- 
tents of  the  Book  of  books,  that  they  are  supported  upon  evi- 
dence more  varied,  voluminous,  and  satisfactory  than  any  part 
of  the  profane  or  secular  history  of  the  world ;  of  the  portion 
of  the  Bible  which  refers  to  St.  Paul,  or  was  written  by  him,  it 
may  be  claimed  that  it  has  all  the  certainty  of  historical  truth 
in  itself,  and  involves  in  its  own  genuineness  and  authenticity 
all  the  rest. 

The  argument  for  the  truth  of  Christianity  written  by  Lord 


232  THE   APOSTLE    PAUL. 

Lyttleton,  is  one  of  the  most  elegantly  written  and  elaborate, 
yet  natural  and  convincing  treatises  which  the  defence  of  the 
faith  has  ever  called  forth.  Taking  the  conversion  of  St.  Paul 
as  a  fact  that  cannot  be  controverted  without  overturning  the 
credit  of  all  history,  that  he  was  once  a  persecutor  of  Chris- 
tians cannot  be  denied ;  and  that  afterwards  he  was  a  zealous 
defender  and  advocate  of  the  Christian  faith,  is  equally  certain. 
His  conversion  must  have  taken  place  in  the  miraculous  manner 
recorded  in  the  Scriptures,  or  Paul  must  have  been  an  impostor, 
an  enthusiast,  or  a  dupe.  In  the  first  case,  the  Hebrew  of 
Hebrews,  the  Roman  by  birthright,  and  the  Greek  in  polite 
knowledge,  had  nothing  to  gain  and  every  thing  to  lose ;  the 
second  is  a  supposition  which  his  whole  history  and  writings 
contradict,  for  in  what  he  did,  and  what  he  said  and  wrote, 
there  is  not  the  least  trace  of  fanaticism  ;  and  as  to  the  last  sup- 
position, it  would,  upon  a  review  of  the  life  of  this  great  Apostle, 
seem  that  Divine  Wisdom  had  put  him  forward  to  show  that 
while  the  common  and  uneducated  people  heard  of  Jesus  gladly, 
there  was  nothing  in  the  well-known  facts  and  doctrines  as 
announced  by  the  first  Christians,  which  the  most  acute  analyst 
and  skilful  logician  of  his  age  could  not  wholly  and  heartily 
believe,  and,  under  the  inspiration  of  the  Spirit,  faithfully  preach. 
In  the  circumstances  attending  his  own  conversion,  there  was 
no  possibility  to  deceive  him,  and  no  opportunity  for  fraud. 

Tarsus,  where  Paul  was  born,  had  at  this  era  eclipsed  the 
waning  glories  of  polite  Athens,  and  was  remarkable  for  its 
schools  and  academies,  and  for  its  peculiar  style  of  eloquence — 
the  florid  Asiatic  engrafted  upon  the  chaste  Attic.  We  find 
strong  marks  of  the  first,  in  the  vehement  abruptness  and  glow- 
ing hyperbole  of  St.  Paul's  writings,  and  of  the  latter  in  his  very 
numerous  direct  quotations  and  indirect  allusions,  and  his  adap- 


THE   APOSTLE    PAUL.  233 

tations  of  Grecian  literature.  Of  his  eloquence  in  speaking,  we 
need  no  other  evidences  than  the  skeletons  of  his  defences 
which  are  left  on  record.  To  the  Hellenistic  education  of  Paul 
a  rabbinical  course  was  added,  under  Gamaliel,  one  of  the  most 
celebrated  of  the  Jewish  doctors.  This  conferred,  in  addition 
to  his  other  advantages,  a  knowledge  of  the  law,  of  which  he 
most  skilfully  availed  himself,  and  an  acuteness  and  skill  in 
applying  it,  which  no  man  has  ever  equalled.  To  complete  his 
advantages,  he  was  taught  the  trade  of  a  tent-maker,  in  con- 
formity with  the  Jewish  axiom,  that  he  who  does  not  give  his 
son  a  trade  makes  him  a  thief.  This  last  branch  of  his  know- 
ledge suggested  to  him  the  illustrative  introduction  of  military 
images,  with  which  his  writings  abound.  In  the  life  and  works 
of  this  eminent  Apostle  we  have  a  practical  exhibition  how 
eminently  all  knowledge  may  be  made  available  to  the  preacher, 
as  developing  different  phases  of  the  character  of  men,  and  fur- 
nishing the  keys  to  different  hearts  and  dispositions,  enabling 
him  with  the  more  certainty  to  apply  to  classes  and  individuals 
all  Scripture  which  "  is  given  by  the  inspiration  of  God,  and  is 
profitable  for  doctrine,  for  reproof,  for  correction,  for  instruc- 
tion in  righteousness."  But  in  noticing  the  character  of  Paul, 
we  should  never  lose  sight  of  the  Christian  virtues  which  he 
so  eminently  possessed — humility,  which,  notwithstanding  the 
astounding  miracle  which  was  vouchsafed  for  his  especial  con- 
version, and  the  visions  of  heaven  which  he  enjoyed,  led  him  still 
to  count  himself  the  least  of  all  the  Apostles,  and  not  meet  to  be 
called  one ;  charity,  of  which  no  eulogium  ever  uttered,  excels 
his  in  earnest  praise ;  and  faith,  in  Paul  more  single  in  trust, 
and  more  abiding  in  continuance  than,  perhaps,  in  any  other 
disciple.  It  was  this  that  cheered  him,  when,  in  view  of  tlie 
earthly  honour  he  had  lost  by  his  conversion,  and  of  the  bitter 

20* 


234  THE    APOSTLE    PAUL. 

persecutions  of  the  enemies  of  Christ,  he  declared  that  if  in  this 
hfe  only  Christians  have  hope  in  Christ,  they  are  of  all  men 
most  miserable :  it  was  faith  which  made  him  look  beyond  the 
hatred  of  the  Jews,  the  barbarity  of  the  Gentiles,  and,  worse 
than  either,  the  distrust  of  friends,  and  the  treachery  of  false 
brethren,  to  an  incorruptible  inheritance,  and  near  the  close  of 
his  labours  to  exclaim  in  Christian  triumph, — "  I  am  now  ready 
to  be  offered,  and  the  time  of  my  departure  is  at  hand.  I  have 
fought  a  good  fight,  I  have  finished  my  course,  I  have  kept  the 
faith :  henceforth  there  is  laid  up  for  me  a  crown  of  righteous- 
ness." 

As  Paul  may  be  considered  the  great  head  of  the  Apostles 
and  teachers  who  were  not  personally  conversant  with  Jesus ; 
and  as  his  character  developes  many  traits  which  were  not 
compatible  with  that  of  the  illiterate  Galileans,  who,  being 
taught  in  all  languages  and  tongues  by  the  descent  of  the  Holy 
Ghost,  were,  we  may  presume,  in  other  things  miraculously  in- 
structed, the  sacred  writings  give  us  more  information  upon  the 
life  and  character  of  Paul,  than  upon  any  of  the  other  early 
Christian  teachers.  In  the  Acts,  Luke  is  very  full,  and  in  Paul's 
many  epistles  we  have  continual  allusions  and  references, 
which,  while  in  the  most  convincing,  because  unstudied  manner, 
they  confirm  Luke's  narrative,  furnish  a  skeleton  of  his  life  and 
travels,  which  it  is  not  difficult  to  clothe  with  tolerable  certainty 
and  particularity. 

After  his  conversion,  and  what  befell  him  in  Damascus,  he 
tells  us,  in  the  first  chapter  of  Galatians,  that  he  went  from  Da- 
mascus into  Arabia,  and  after  three  years  returned,  and  went 
up  to  Jerusalem  to  see  Peter,  whence,  as  recorded  in  the  Acts, 
the  persecution  of  the  Hellenistic  Jews  compelled  him  to  make 
his  escape,  in  which  he  was  assisted  by  the  brethren,  and  sent 


THE    APOSTLE    PAUL.  235 

to  Cilicia.  He  mentions,  in  the  sixteenth  chapter  of  Romans, 
that  some  of  his  kindred  were  Christians  before  him,  and  it  is 
not  improbable  that  the  manner  in  which  he  was  received  by 
his  behoving  kindred  and  friends,  was  a  stumbUng-block  to  his 
humihty.  The  vision  of  which  he  speaks  in  the  thirteenth 
chapter  of  the  second  epistle  to  the  Corinthians,  is  usually  re- 
ferred to  this  period,  and  it  was  accompanied  with  a  thorn  in 
the  flesh — some  personal  deficiency  not  ascertained,  lest  he 
"  should  be  exalted  above  measure." 

We  next  find  Paul  at  Antioch,  in  Syria,  the  city  in  which 
the  followers  of  Jesus  were  first  called  Christians,  where  he 
laboured  with  Barnabas,  by  whom  he  was  invited  to  that  city, 
for  one  year,  and  "  taught  much  people."  He  was  chosen  with 
Barnabas,  to  carry  the  contributions  of  the  brethren  to  Jerusa- 
lem ;  and  it  was  on  this  visit  that  it  is  supposed  the  Lord  ap- 
peared to  him,  while  he  prayed  in  the  temple,  and  warning  him 
from  Jerusalem,  sent  him  to  preach  to  the  Gentiles.  Taking 
with  them  Mark,  they  departed  and  went  first  to  Seleucia,  and 
thence  to  Cyprus.  The  highly  interesting  incidents  of  the  journey 
are  recorded  in  Acts  xiii.  It  is  noticeable  that  in  this  con- 
nexion Luke  first  calls  Saul,  Paul,  and  the  conjecture  has  all 
the  probability  of  analogous  circumstances  in  Roman  history, 
that  Saul  took  the  name  of  Paul,  in  compliment  to  the  "  prudent 
man,"  Sergius  Paulus,  the  Roman  Proconsul,  who  was  con- 
verted by  his  preaching,  and  the  miracle  which  accompanied 
it.  Josephus  took  the  name  of  Flavius  in  honour  of  Vespasian; 
and  if  it  were  necessary  to  establish  a  point  so  familiar  to 
readers  of  Roman  history,  instances  might  be  multiplied  of 
similar  compliments  paid  to  the  good  or  the  great. 

The  next  miracle  recorded  of  Paul,  was  at  Lystra,  where  he 
healed  a  cripple ;  and,  one  day  deemed  a  god,  was  afterwards, 


236  THE   APOSTLE    PAUL. 

by  the  instigation  of  certain  Jews,  stoned,  and  left  for  dead. 
After  visiting  many  places,  including  Antioch,  in  Pisidia,  Paul 
and  his  companions  returned  to  Antioch,  in  Syria ;  and  from 
thence  Paul  and  Barnabas  were  deputed  to  Jerusalem,  to  lay 
before  the  Apostles  there  the  question  of  the  circumcision. 
After  the  decision,  Paul  and  Barnabas  were  accompanied  back 
to  Antioch  by  two  of  the  brethren,  and  there  continued,  until  a 
contention  rose  between  them  relative  to  the  choice  of  a  travel- 
ling companion,  Barnabas  desiring  to  take  Mark,  and  Paul 
objecting.  We  find  Mark,  in  Paul's  epistles  written  from 
Rome,  af.ervvards  the  companion  of  that  Apostle,  and  in  Peter's 
first  epistle  he  is  mentioned  under  the  endearing  title  of  son,  as 
being  with  him.  At  the  house  of  the  mother  of  Mark,  in  Jeru- 
salem, frequent  meetings  of  the  early  Christians  were  held. 
We  have  already  spoken  of  his  Gospel,  in  the  life  of  Peter,  as 
bearing  evident  marks  of  that  Apostle's  supervision.  It  is  the 
tradition  that  Mark  ended  his  life  in  Alexandria,  where  it  is 
said  he  founded  a  church ;  and  his  Christian  usefulness  as  a 
preacher,  and  as  an  Evangelist,  is  an  instance  of  that  reward 
in  blessing  upon  the  children,  which  may  be  counted  upon,  when 
the  loved  guests  of  the  parents  are  fit  examples  for  the  young. 

At  Lystra,  Paul  adopted  his  "  son  Timothy,"  afterwards  so 
shining  a  light  in  the  church,  and  at  Troas  they  were  joined  by 
Luke,  as  appears  from  the  sacred  historian's  commencing  here 
to  use  the  pronouns  "  us"  and  "  we"  in  describing  the  journey 
to  Philippi.  Then  this  form  of  speaking  is  discontinued ;  but  is 
resumed  again  when  Paul  touches  at  Philippi,  on  his  way  to 
Jerusalem.  It  is  conjectured  that  Luke  remained  in  Cesarea 
during  Paul's  imprisonment  there ;  and  it  is  clear  from  the  nar- 
rative, that  he  accompanied  him  to  Rome ;  and  in  Paul's  last 


THE   APOSTLE    PAUL.  237 

letter,  the  second  to  Timothy,  he  mentions  Luke  as  with  him. 
He  is  mentioned  by  Paul  in  the  epistle  to  the  Romans  as  his 
kinsman,  and  in  that  to  the  Colossians  as  "  the  beloved  physi- 
cian." His  writings,  the  Gospel,  and  the  history  of  the  Acts, 
are  clear  and  perspicuous,  and  have  a  correctness  of  language 
which  one  should  expect  from  an  educated  native  of  Gyrene  ; 
for  Luke  is  called  in  the  thirteenth  chapter  of  Acts  a  Cyrenean. 
The  end  of  his  life  is  involved  in  uncertainty,  but  it  is  presum- 
able that  he  did  not  long  survive  Paul,  as  he  would  else  pro- 
bably have  continued  the  history  of  the  founding  of  the  Christian 
church.  The  time  at  which  both  the  Gospel  and  the  Acts  were 
written  or  published,  is  with  most  probability  to  be  placed  at 
the  close  of  Paul's  last  imprisonment  in  Rome  ;  and  in  the  com- 
position of  both  he  doubtless  had  the  aid  of  Paul  in  collating 
what  the  eye-witnesses  had  delivered. 

In  so  brief  a  treatise  as  this,  it  is  not  possible  to  present  a 
connected  account  of  Paul's  journeys  and  apostolic  acts.  Luke 
has  recorded  them  with  clearness  and  graphic  interest,  which, 
while  it  gives  us  a  vivid  idea  of  the  labours  of  Paul,  may  serve 
also  to  apprise  us  of  what  character  were  the  labours  of  the 
other  Apostles  also.  In  the  meetings  and  partings  of  Christian 
friends,  the  details  of  touching  familiar  incidents,  the  affec- 
tionate mention  of  co-labourers  and  kinsmen  in  the  epistles  of 
Paul,  we  are  admitted  to  the  private  life  and  characters  of  the 
great  teachers  who  lost  no  proper  occasion  to  decline  all  super- 
stitious reverence,  and  to  declare  themselves  subject  to  like 
l)assions  with  us ;  and  while  we  admire  and  reverence  them  as 
Apostles,  we  feel  united  to  them  as  men,  in  the  bonds  of  Chris- 
tian fellowship  and  sympathy. 

St.  Paul's  death  is  fixed  with  apparent  certainty  as  having 


238  THE   APOSTLE    PAUL. 

taken  place  on  or  about  the  year  66,  by  decapitation,  his  birth- 
right as  a  Roman  forbidding  the  cross.  For  the  hope  with 
which  he  met  it,  we  may  refer  to  many  places  in  his  epistles — 
but  particularly  the  last  to  Timothy.  These  inestimable  ex- 
positions of  Christian  doctrine,  have  been  the  subject  of  much 
research  in  regard  to  their  chronological  order ;  and  the  allu- 
sions and  references  they  contain,  compared  with  dates  and 
facts  in  the  Apostle's  life,  have  led  to  the  adoption  of  the  follow- 
ing order : — The  two  epistles  to  the  Thessalonians,  and  that  to 
the  Galatians,  were  written  from  Corinth,  in  the  years  52  and 
53 ;  the  first  to  the  Corinthians  from  Ephesus,  A.  D.  57 ;  the 
epistle  to  the  Romans  from  Corinth  57-8 ;  the  second  to  the 
Corinthians  from  Macedonia,  A.  D.  58 ;  those  to  the  Ephesians, 
Philippians,  Colossians,  to  Philemon,  and  to  the  Hebrews  from 
Rome,  in  the  years  61,  62,  and  63;  the  first  to  Timothy,  and 
the  epistle  to  Titus,  from  Macedonia,  A.  D.  64,  and  the  second 
to  Timothy,  from  Rome,  in  the  year  65.  The  reader  who 
desires  to  compare  the  references  and  coincidences  in  these 
letters  with  the  History  of  the  Acts,  which  brings  Paul's  life 
down  to  the  year  63,  is  referred  to  that  convincing,  erudite,  and 
most  interesting  work,  Paley's  Horse  Paulina?. 

The  best  and  most  eloquent  summary  of  the  labours  and 
sufferings  of  Paul,  is  in  his  own  words,  2  Corinthians  xi.  24—28. 
"  Of  the  Jews  five  times  received  I  forty  stripes  save  one. 
Thrice  was  I  beaten  with  rods,  once  was  I  stoned,  thrice  I  suf- 
fered shipwreck,  a  night  and  a  day  I  have  been  in  the  deep ;  in 
journeyings  often,  in  perils  of  waters,  in  perils  of  robbers,  in 
perils  by  mine  own  countrymen,  in  perils  by  the  heathen,  in 
perils  in  the  city,  in  perils  in  the  wilderness,  in  perils  in  the  sea, 
in  perils  among  false  brethren ;  in  weariness  and  painfulness,  in 


THE    APOSTLE    PAUL.  239 

watchings  often,  in  hunger  and  thirst,  in  fastings  often,  in  cold 
and  nakedness.  Besides  those  things  that  are  without,  that 
which  Cometh  upon  me  daily,  the  care  of  all  the  churches."  But 
for  all  this,  he  saw  his  reward,  as  is  testified  in  the  last  words 
of  this  great  Apostle,  which  have  come  down  to  us,  not  as  his 
words  only,  but  as  consolation  which  every  Christian  may 
claim,  and  in  which  every  humble  and  believing  soul  may  re- 
joice : — "  The  Lord  shall  deliver  me  from  every  evil  work,  and 
will  preserve  me  unto  his  heavenly  kingdom ;  to  whom  be  glory 
for  ever  and  ever."     Amen. 


L  '  E  N  V  O  I. 

THE     MISSION    OF     THE    WORD. 
WILLIAM    LISLE    BOWLES. 

All  nations  shall  come  and  worship  before  thee.— Rev.  xv.  4. 

\ 

And  thou,  the  Kght  of  God's  eternal  Word, 
Record  and  Spirit  of  the  Hving  Lord, 
Hid  and  unknown  from  half  the  world,  at  length, 
Rise  like  the  sun,  and  go  forth  in  thy  strength ! 
Already  towering  o'er  old  Ganges'  stream, 
The  dark  pagoda  brightens  in  thy  beam ; 
And  the  dim  eagles,  on  the  topmost  height 
Of  Jaggernaut,  shine  as  in  morning  light ! 
Beyond  the  snows  of  savage  Labrador 
The  ray  pervades  pale  Greenland's  wintry  shore- 
Proceed,  auspicious  and  eventful  day ! 
Banner  of  Christ,  thy  ampler  folds  display ! 
Let  Atlas  shout  with  Andes,  and  proclaim 
To  earth,  and  sea,  and  skies,  a  Saviour's  name, 
Till  angel  voices  in  the  sound  shall  blend, 
And  one  Hosanna  !  from  all  worlds  ascend  ! 


THE    END. 


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